Posh interacting proteins and related methods

ABSTRACT

The application provides novel complexes of POSH polypeptides and POSH-associated proteins. The application also provides methods and compositions for treating POSH-associated diseases such as viral disorders, cancer, and neurological disorders.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/451,437 filed 3 Mar. 2003; 60/452,284 filed 5 Mar. 2003; 60/456,640 filed 20 Mar. 2003; 60/460,526 filed 3 Apr. 2003; 60/464,285 filed 21 Apr. 2003; 60/469,462 filed 9 May 2003; 60/471,378 filed 15 May 2003; 60/472,327 filed 20 May 2003; 60/474,706 filed 30 May 2003; 60/475,825 filed 3 Jun. 2003; 60/479,317 filed 17 Jun. 2003; 60/480,376 filed 19 Jun. 2003; 60/480,215 filed 19 Jun. 2003; 60/493,860 filed 8 Aug. 2003; 60/503,931 filed 16 Sep. 2003; 60/455,760 filed 19 Mar. 2003; 60/460,792 filed 4 Apr. 2003; 60/498,634 filed 28 Aug. 2003; and a provisional application filed on Mar. 2, 2004, (Attorney Docket No. PROL-P79-024), in the name of Daniel N. Taglicht, Iris Alroy, Yuval Reiss, Liora Yaar, Danny Ben-Avraham, Shmuel Tuvia, and Tsvika Greener entitled “Posh Interacting Proteins and Related Methods”; a PCT application US03/35712 filed 10 Nov. 2003; and a PCT application filed on Feb. 5, 2004, (Attorney Docket No. PROL-PWO-039), in the name of Iris Alroy, Daniel Taglicht, Yuval Reiss, Liora Yaar, and Shmuel Tuvia entitled “Posh Associated Kinases and Related Methods”. The teachings of the referenced Applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Potential drug target validation involves determining whether a DNA, RNA or protein molecule is implicated in a disease process and is therefore a suitable target for development of new therapeutic drugs. Drug discovery, the process by which bioactive compounds are identified and characterized, is a critical step in the development of new treatments for human diseases. The landscape of drug discovery has changed dramatically due to the genomics revolution. DNA and protein sequences are yielding a host of new drug targets and an enormous amount of associated information.

The identification of genes and proteins involved in various disease states or key biological processes, such as inflammation and immune response, is a vital part of the drug design process. Many diseases and disorders could be treated or prevented by decreasing the expression of one or more genes involved in the molecular etiology of the condition if the appropriate molecular target could be identified and appropriate antagonists developed. For example, cancer, in which one or more cellular oncogenes become activated and result in the unchecked progression of cell cycle processes, could be treated by antagonizing appropriate cell cycle control genes. Furthermore many human genetic diseases, such as Huntington's disease, and certain prion conditions, which are influenced by both genetic and epigenetic factors, result from the inappropriate activity of a polypeptide as opposed to the complete loss of its function. Accordingly, antagonizing the aberrant function of such mutant genes would provide a means of treatment. Additionally, infectious diseases such as HIV have been successfully treated with molecular antagonists targeted to specific essential retroviral proteins such as HIV protease or reverse transcriptase. Drug therapy strategies for treating such diseases and disorders have frequently employed molecular antagonists which target the polypeptide product of the disease gene(s). However, the discovery of relevant gene or protein targets is often difficult and time consuming.

One area of particular interest is the identification of host genes and proteins that are co-opted by viruses during the viral life cycle. The serious and incurable nature of many viral diseases, coupled with the high rate of mutations found in many viruses, makes the identification of antiviral agents a high priority for the improvement of world health. Genes and proteins involved in a viral life cycle are also appealing as a subject for investigation because such genes and proteins will typically have additional activities in the host cell and may play a role in other nonviral disease states.

Other areas of interest include the identification of genes and proteins involved in cancer, apoptosis and neural disorders (particularly those associated with apoptotic neurons, such as Alzheimer's disease).

It would be beneficial to identify proteins involved in one or more of these processs for use in, among other things, drug screening methods. Additionally, once a protein involved in one or more processes of interest has been identified, it is possible to identify proteins that associate, directly or indirectly, with the initially identified protein. Knowledge of interactors will provide insight into protein assemblages and pathways that participate in disease processes, and in many cases an interacting protein will have desirable properties for the targeting of therapeutics. In some cases, an interacting protein will already be known as a drug target, but in a different biological context. Thus, by identifying a suite of proteins that interact with an initially identified protein, it is possible to identify novel drug targets and new uses for previously known therapeutics.

SUMMARY

This application provides isolated, purified or recombinant complexes comprising a POSH polypeptide and one or more POSH-associated protein (POSH-AP). In certain aspects, the POSH-AP comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: PKA, SNX1, SNX3, ATP6V0C, PTPN12, PPP1CA, GOSR2, CENTB1, DDEF1, ARF1, ARF5, PACS-1, EPS8L2, HERPUD1, UNC84B, MSTP028, GOCAP, EIF3S3, SRA1, CBL-B, RALA, SIAH1, SMN1, SMN2, SYNE1, TTC3, VCY2IP1 and UBE2N (UBC13). In other aspects, the POSH-AP comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: ARHV (Chp), WASF1, HIP55, SPG20, HLA-A, and HLA-B. In further aspects, the POSH-AP comprises one or more polypeptides set forth in Table 8. In certain embodiments the POSH polypeptide is a human POSH polypeptide.

In certain embodiments, this application provides isolated, purified or recombinant complexes comprising a HERPUD1 polypeptides and a ubiquitin ligase, examples of the ubiquitin ligase include CBL-B, TTC3, and SIAH1.

In certain embodiments, the application provides methods for identifying agents that modulates an activity of a POSH polypeptide or POSH-AP, comprising identifying an agent that disrupts a complex of a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP, wherein an agent that disrupts such a complex is an agent that modulates an activity of the POSH polypeptide or the POSH-AP.

In yet other embodiments, the application provides methods of identifying an antiviral agent, comprising identifying a test agent that disrupts a complex comprising a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP and evaluating the effect of the test agent on either a pro-infective or pro-replicative function of a virus is an antiviral agent, wherein an agent inhibits such a function of a virus is an antiviral agent. In certain embodiments the POSH-AP is selected from the group consisting of: PKA, SNX1, SNX3, PTPN12, GOSR2, CENTB1, ARF1, ARF5, PACS-1, EPS8L2, HERPUD1, SMN1, SMN2, UNC84B, MSTP028, GOCAP, CBL-B, SYNE1, UBE2N (UBC13), SIAH1, TTC3, WASF1, HIP55, RALA, and SPG20. Examples of such viruses include for example, envelope viruses such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the West Nile Virus, and the Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (MMuLV).

In other embodiments, the application provides methods of identifying an anti-apoptotic agent, comprising identifying a test agent that disrupts a complex comprising a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP and evaluating the effect of the test agent on apoptosis of a cell wherein an agent that decreases apoptosis of the cell is an anti-apoptotic agent. In yet other embodiments, the application provides methods of identifying an anti-cancer agent, comprising identifying a test agent that disrupts a complex comprising a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP and evaluating the effect of the test agent on proliferation or survival of a cancer cell, wherein an agent that decreases proliferation or survival of a cancer cell is an anti-cancer agent. Examples of the POSH-AP include PKA, SNX1, PTPN12, PPP1CA, ARF1, ARF5, CENTB1, EPS8L2, EIF3S3, CBL-B, RALA, SIAH1, TTC3, ATP6V0C, and VCY2IP1. In certain embodiments, the cancer is a POSH-associated cancer.

In certain aspects, the application provides methods of identifying an agent that inhibits trafficking of a protein through the secretory pathway, comprising identifying a test agent that disrupts a complex comprising a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP and evaluating the effect of the test agent on the trafficking of a protein through the secretory pathway wherein an agent that disrupts localization of said POSH-AP is an agent that inhibits trafficking of a protein through the secretory pathway. In certain embodiments, the protein is a myristoylated protein. In yet other embodiments, the protein is a viral protein. In alternative embodiments, the protein is associated with a neurological disorder such as for example the amyloid beta precursor protein.

In yet other embodiments, the application provides methods of identifying an agent that inhibits the progression of a neurological disorder, comprising identifying a test agent that disrupts a complex comprising a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP evaluating the effect of the test agent on the trafficking of a protein through the secretory pathway wherein an agent that disrupts localization of a POSH-AP is an agent that inhibits progression of a neurological disorder. In certain aspects the POSH-AP is HERPUD1.

In yet other embodiments, this application provides methods of treating a viral infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an agent that inhibits a POSH-AP in an amount sufficient to inhibit the viral infection. The agent is one that: inhibits a kinase activity of the POSH-AP; inhibits expression of the POSH-AP; inhibits the ubiquitin ligase activity of the POSH-AP; inhibits the phosphatase activity of the POSH-AP; inhibits the GTPase activity of the POSH-AP; and inhibits the ubiquitination of the POSH-AP. In certain embodiments, the POSH-AP comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: PKA, SNX1, SNX3, SMN1, SMN2, PTPN12, GOSR2, CENTB1, ARF1, ARF5, PACS-1, EPS8L2, HERPUD1, UNC84B, MSTP028, GOCAP, CBL-B, SYNE1, UBE2N (UBC13), SIAH1, TTC3, WASF1, HIP55, RALA, and SPG20. In certain aspects, the agent may be an siRNA construct, a small molecule, an antibody, or an antisense construct.

In certain embodiments, the agent is an siRNA construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes to an mRNA encoding the POSH-AP. Examples include siRNA constructs that inhibit the expression of HERPUD1 or MSTP028. Examples of siRNA constructs that inhibit the expression of HERPUD1 include: 5′GGAAGUUCUUCGGAACCUdTdT-3′ and 5′-dTdTCCCUUCAAGAAGCCWUGGA-5′. Examples of siRNA constructs that inhibit the expression of MSTP028 include: 5′-AAGTGCTCACCGACAGTGAAG-3′ and 5′-AAGATACTTATGAGCCTTTCT-3′.

In other aspects, the agents may be a small molecule inhibitor is selected from among the following categories: adenosine cyclic monophosphorothioate, isoquinolinesulfonamide, piperazine, piceatannol, and ellagic acid. In alternative embodiments, the agents may be a small molecule inhibitor that inhibits the ligase activity of a POSH polypeptide or inhinbits the ubiquitination of a POSH-AP. Examples of such small molecules include, for example:

In certain embodiments, the application provides packaged pharmaceuticals for treating viral infections, comprising: a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of a POSH-AP and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and instructions for use.

In certain embodiments, the application provides methods of treating or preventing a POSH associated cancer in a subject comprising administering an agent that inhibits a POSH-AP to a subject in need thereof, wherein said agent treats or prevents cancer. The POSH-AP comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: PKA, SNX1, PTPN12, PPP1CA, CENTB1, ARF1, ARF5, EPS8L2, EIF3S3, CBL-B, RALA, SIAH1, TTC3, ATP6V0C, and VCY2IP1.

In yet other aspects, the application provides methods of treating a neurological disorder comprising administering an agent to a subject in need thereof, wherein said agent either inhibits the Ubiquitin ligase activity of POSH or inhibits the ubquitination of a POSH-AP. Examples of the POSH-AP include: PTPN12, DDEF1, EPS8L2, HERPUD1, GOCAP, CBL-B, SIAH1, SMN1, SMN2, TTC3, SPG20, SNX1, and ARF1.

Examples of the neurological disorders include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, schizophrenia, Niemann-Pick's disease, and prion-associated diseases. In certain aspects, the agent is selected from the group consisting of: an siRNA construct, a small molecule, an antibody, and an antisense construct. Examples of the small molecules include:

In certain aspects, the disclosure provides methods of treating viral hepatitis in a subject in need thereof. Such a method may comprise administering an effective amount of an agent that inhibits POSH or disrupts an interaction between POSH and a dynamin, preferably dynamin II. In certain embodiments, the subject has a viral hepatitis caused by HBV or HCV.

In certain aspects, the disclosure provides methods of inhibiting a hepatotrophic virus or a method for treating a disease associated with a hepatrophic virus, comprising administering an effective amount of an agent, wherein said agent inhibits POSH or an interaction between POSH and dynamin. In certain embodiments, the hepatrophic virus is selected from the group consisting of HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, and HEV. The hepatotrophic virus associated disease may be, for example, viral hepatitis or hepatocellular carcinoma. An agent for any of the above methods may include, for example, a nucleic acid agent that decreases the level of POSH in cells of the subject (e.g., an antisense oligonucleotide, an RNAi construct, a DNA enzyme, a ribozyme) or small molecule inhibitors of POSH, as well as antibodies or other binding agents that bind to a surface of POSH or dynamin that participates in a POSH-dynamin interaction. An agent may be any of the following: a small molecule, an antibody, a fragment of an antibody, a peptidomimetic, and a polypeptide. Examples of small molecules include: STRUCTURE MW CAS number

384.2 14567-55-4

389.5 414908-38-0

In certain embodiments, the application provides methods for inhibiting an HBV infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a POSH inhibitor, wherein the HBV infection is inhibited in the subject. In additional embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for treating an HBV infection in a patient, comprising administering an effective amount of an agent that inhibits POSH or decreases the level of POSH protein or nucleic acid in an infected cell. An agent may be, for example, an RNAi construct that inhibits the expression of POSH. Optionally the RNAi construct is 20-25 nucleotides in length and optionally it is selected from any one of SEQ ID NOS: 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, and 25. The RNAi may be formulated as a liposome. An agent may be a small molecule inhibitor of POSH ubiquitin ligase activity, as disclosed herein. Examples of small molecule inhibitors of POSH include: STRUCTURE MW CAS number

384.2 14567-55-4

389.5 414908-38-0

In certain aspects, the disclosure provides a method for treating an HBV infection in a patient, comprising administering an effective amount of an antisense oligonucleotide sufficient to bind a nucleic acid molecule, which nucleic acid molecule encodes a POSH polypeptide.

In certain embodiments, the application provides methods for inhibiting an HBV infection by administering an effective amount of a compound of the formula:

In additional embodiments, the application provides methods for treating an HBV infection by administering an effective amount of a compound of the formula:

In certain aspects, the disclosure provides methods for inhibiting the maturation of a lentivirus by modulating the activity of a Vpu polypeptide. In preferred embodiments, maturation of the lentivirus is inhibited by inhibiting the transport and/or assembly of viral particles in the TGN and from the TGN to the plasma membrane. A preferred lentivirus for application of such a method is the human immunodeficiency virus.

In certain aspects, the disclosure provides methods of inhibiting viral infection comprising administering an agent to a subject in need thereof, wherein said agent inhibits the interaction between a POSH polypeptide and Vpu.

In certain aspects, the disclosure provides methods for identifying a target polypeptide for antiviral therapy, the method comprising: a) selecting a test polypeptide known to localize or predicted to localize to the trans Golgi network; b) inhibiting an activity of the test polypeptide in a cell infected with a viral construct under conditions where, but for the inhibition of the activity of the test polypeptide, viral particles are released from the cell; and c) determining whether viral particles are released from the cell, wherein, if inhibiting the activity of the test polypeptide in the cell inhibits the release of viral particles from the cell, the test polypeptide is a target polypeptide for antiviral therapy. In a preferred embodiment, the test polypeptide is Vpu. Vpu activity may be inhibited, for example, by siRNA, antisense or other nucleic acid based method.

In certain aspects, the disclosure provides isolated, purified or recombinant complexes comprising a POSH polypeptide and a Vpu polypeptide. The POSH polypeptide may comprise, for example, a POSH SH3 domain, or a polypeptide at least 80% identical to such an SH3 domain. An antiviral agent may be selected based on its ability to disrupt a POSH-Vpu complex.

The practice of the present application will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of cell biology, cell culture, molecular biology, transgenic biology, microbiology, recombinant DNA, and immunology, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, for example, Molecular Cloning A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., ed. by Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: 1989); DNA Cloning, Volumes I and II (D. N. Glover ed., 1985); Oligonucleotide Synthesis (M. J. Gait ed., 1984); Mullis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195; Nucleic Acid Hybridization (B. D. Hames & S. J. Higgins eds. 1984); Transcription And Translation (B. D. Hames & S. J. Higgins eds. 1984); Culture Of Animal Cells (R. I. Freshney, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1987); Immobilized Cells And Enzymes (IL Press, 1986); B. Perbal, A Practical Guide To Molecular Cloning (1984); the treatise, Methods In Enzymology (Academic Press, Inc., N.Y.); Gene Transfer Vectors For Mammalian Cells (J. H. Miller and M. P. Calos eds., 1987, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory); Methods In Enzymology, Vols. 154 and 155 (Wu et al. eds.), Immunochemical Methods In Cell And Molecular Biology (Mayer and Walker, eds., Academic Press, London, 1987); Handbook Of Experimental Immunology, Volumes I-IV (D. M. Weir and C. C. Blackwell, eds., 1986); Manipulating the Mouse Embryo, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1986).

Other features and advantages of the application will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows human POSH coding sequence (SEQ ID NO:1).

FIG. 2 shows human POSH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2).

FIG. 3 shows human POSH cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO:3).

FIG. 4 shows 5′ cDNA fragment of human POSH (public gi:10432611; SEQ ID NO:4).

FIG. 5 shows N terminus protein fragment of hPOSH (public gi:10432612; SEQ ID NO:5).

FIG. 6 shows 3′ mRNA fragment of hPOSH (public gi:7959248; SEQ ID NO:6).

FIG. 7 shows C terminus protein fragment of hPOSH (public gi:7959249; SEQ ID NO:7).

FIG. 8 shows human POSH full mRNA, annotated sequence.

FIG. 9 shows domain analysis of human POSH.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of human POSH nucleic acids. The diagram shows the full-length POSH gene and the position of regions amplified by RT-PCR or targeted by siRNA used in FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 shows effect of knockdown of POSH mRNA by siRNA duplexes. HeLa SS-6 cells were transfected with siRNA against Lamin A/C (lanes 1, 2) or POSH (lanes 3-10). POSH siRNA was directed against the coding region (153—lanes 3, 4; 155—lanes 5, 6) or the 3′UTR (157—lanes 7, 8; 159—lanes 9, 10). Cells were harvested 24 hours post-transfection, RNA extracted, and POSH mRNA levels compared by RT-PCR of a discrete sequence in the coding region of the POSH gene (see FIG. 10). GAPDH is used an RT-PCR control in each reaction.

FIG. 12 shows that POSH affects the release of VLP from cells. A) Phosphohimages of SDS-PAGE gels of immunoprecipitations of ³⁵S pulse-chase labeled Gag proteins are presented for cell and viral lysates from transfected HeLa cells that were either untreated or treated with POSH RNAi (50 nM for 48 hours). The time during the chase period (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours after the pulse) are presented from left to right for each image.

FIG. 13 shows release of VLP from cells at steady state. Hela cells were transfected with an HIV-encoding plasmid and siRNA. Lanes 1, 3 and 4 were transfected with wild-type HIV-encoding plasmid. Lane 2 was transfected with an HIV-encoding plasmid which contains a point mutation in p6 (PTAP to ATAP). Control siRNA (lamin A/C) was transfected to cells in lanes 1 and 2. siRNA to Tsg101 was transfected in lane 4 and siRNA to POSH in lane 3.

FIG. 14 shows mouse POSH mRNA sequence (public gi:10946921; SEQ ID NO: 8).

FIG. 15 shows mouse POSH Protein sequence (Public gi:10946922; SEQ ID NO: 9).

FIG. 16 shows Drosophila melanogaster POSH mRNA sequence (public gi:17737480; SEQ ID NO:10).

FIG. 17 shows Drosophila melanogaster POSH protein sequence (public gi:17737481; SEQ ID NO:1).

FIG. 18 shows POSH domain analysis.

FIG. 19 shows that human POSH has ubiquitin ligase activity.

FIG. 20 shows that human POSH co-immunoprecipitates with RAC1.

FIG. 21 shows that POSH knockdown results in decreased secretion of phospholipase D (“PLD”).

FIG. 22 shows effect of hPOSH on Gag-EGFP intracellular distribution.

FIG. 23 shows intracellular distribution of HIV-1 Nef in hPOSH-depleted cells.

FIG. 24 shows intracellular distribution of Src in hPOSH-depleted cells.

FIG. 25 shows intracellular distribution of Rapsyn in hPOSH-depleted cells.

FIG. 26 shows that POSH reduction by siRNA abrogates West Nile virus infectivity.

FIG. 27 shows that POSH knockdown decreases the release of extracellular MMuLV particles.

FIG. 28 shows that knock-down of human POSH entraps HIV virus particles in intracellular vesicles. HIV virus release was analyzed by electron microscopy following siRNA and full-length HIV plasmid transfection. Mature viruses were secreted by cells transfected with HIV plasmid and non-relevant siRNA (control, bottom panel). Knockdown of Tsg101 protein resulted in a budding defect, the viruses that were released had an immature phenotype (top panel). Knockdown of hPOSH levels resulted in accumulation of viruses inside the cell in intracellular vesicles (middle panel).

FIG. 29A shows siRNA-mediated reduction of MSTP028 expression inhibits HIV virus-like particle production (Experiment 1).

FIG. 29B shows siRNA-mediated reduction of MSTP028 expression inhibits HIV virus-like particle production (Experiment 2).

FIG. 30 shows putative PKA phosphorylation sites in hPOSH. Amino acid sequence of hPOSH (70 residues per line). Motifs of the low stringency RxxS/T type are underlined. The high stringency motif R/KR/KxS/T is bordered. Putative S/T phosphorylation sites are highlighted in green. Color-coding of domains: Red—RING, Blue—SH3, Green—putative Rac-1 Binding Domain.

FIG. 31 shows that phosphorylation of hPOSH regulates binding of GTP-loaded Rac-1. Bacterially expressed hPOSH (1 μg) (POSH) or GST (1 μg) (NS) were phosphorylated. Subsequently, GTPγS loaded or unloaded recombinant Rac-1 (0.2 μg) was added to hPOSH or GST. Bound rac1 was isolated as described in materials and methods and samples separated by SDS-PAGE on a 12% gel and immunobloted with anti-Rac-1. Input is 0.25 μg of Rac-1.

FIG. 32 shows domain analysis of various POSH-APs.

FIG. 33 shows siRNA-mediated reduction in HERPUD1 expression reduces HIV maturation.

FIG. 34A shows that endogenous Herp levels are reduced in H153 cells. H153 (POSH-RNAi) and H187 (control RNAi) cells were transfected with a plasmid encoding Flag-ubiquitin. Total cell lysates (A) or Flag-immunoprecipitated material (B) were separated on 10% SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with anti-Herp antibodies.

FIG. 34B shows that exogenous Herp levels and its ubiquitination are reduced in POSH-depleted cells. H153 and H187 cells were co-transfected with Herp or control plasmids and a plasmid encoding Flag-ubiquitin (indicated above the figure). Total (A) and flag-immunoprecipitated material (B) were separated on 10% SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with anti-Herp antibodies.

FIG. 35 shows that the compounds CAS number 14567-554 and CAS number 414908-38-0 (lanes 7 and 8) inhibit HBV production.

FIG. 36 provides the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of POSH-APs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

1. Definitions

The term “binding” refers to a direct association between two molecules, due to, for example, covalent, electrostatic, hydrophobic, ionic and/or hydrogen-bond interactions under physiological conditions.

A “chimeric protein” or “fusion protein” is a fusion of a first amino acid sequence encoding a polypeptide with a second amino acid sequence defining a domain foreign to and not substantially homologous with any domain of the first amino acid sequence. A chimeric protein may present a foreign domain which is found (albeit in a different protein) in an organism which also expresses the first protein, or it may be an “interspecies”, “intergenic”, etc. fusion of protein structures expressed by different kinds of organisms.

The terms “compound”, “test compound” and “molecule” are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include, but are not limited to, peptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, small organic molecules, natural product extract libraries, and any other molecules (including, but not limited to, chemicals, metals and organometallic compounds).

The phrase “conservative amino acid substitution” refers to grouping of amino acids on the basis of certain common properties. A functional way to define common properties between individual amino acids is to analyze the normalized frequencies of amino acid changes between corresponding proteins of homologous organisms (Schulz, G. E. and R. H. Schirmer, Principles of Protein Structure, Springer-Verlag). According to such analyses, groups of amino acids may be defined where amino acids within a group exchange preferentially with each other, and therefore resemble each other most in their impact on the overall protein structure (Schulz, G. E. and R. H. Schirmer, Principles of Protein, Structure, Springer-Verlag). Examples of amino acid groups defined in this manner include:

(i) a charged group, consisting of Glu and Asp, Lys, Arg and His,

(ii) a positively-charged group, consisting of Lys, Arg and His,

(iii) a negatively-charged group, consisting of Glu and Asp,

(iv) an aromatic group, consisting of Phe, Tyr and Trp,

(v) a nitrogen ring group, consisting of His and Trp,

(vi) a large aliphatic nonpolar group, consisting of Val, Leu and Ile,

(vii) a slightly-polar group, consisting of Met and Cys,

(viii) a small-residue group, consisting of Ser, Thr, Asp, Asn, Gly, Ala, Glu, Gin and Pro,

(ix) an aliphatic group consisting of Val, Leu, Ile, Met and Cys, and

(x) a small hydroxyl group consisting of Ser and Thr.

In addition to the groups presented above, each amino acid residue may form its own group, and the group formed by an individual amino acid may be referred to simply by the one and/or three letter abbreviation for that amino acid commonly used in the art.

A “conserved residue” is an amino acid that is relatively invariant across a range of similar proteins. Often conserved residues will vary only by being replaced with a similar amino acid, as described above for “conservative amino acid substitution”.

The term “domain” as used herein refers to a region of a protein that comprises a particular structure and/or performs a particular function.

The term “envelope virus” as used herein refers to any virus that uses cellular membrane and/or any organelle membrane in the viral release process.

“Homology” or “identity” or “similarity” refers to sequence similarity between two peptides or between two nucleic acid molecules. Homology and identity c an each be determined by comparing a position in each sequence which may be aligned for purposes of comparison. When an equivalent position in the compared sequences is occupied by the same base or amino acid, then the molecules are identical at that position; when the equivalent site occupied by the same or a similar amino acid residue (e.g., similar in steric and/or electronic nature), then the molecules can be referred to as homologous (similar) at that position. Expression as a percentage of homology/similarity or identity refers to a function of the number of identical or similar amino acids at positions shared by the compared sequences. A sequence which is “unrelated” or “non-homologous” shares less than 40% identity, though preferably less than 25% identity with a sequence of the present application. In comparing two sequences, the absence of residues (amino acids or nucleic acids) or presence of extra residues also decreases the identity and homology/similarity.

The term “homology” describes a mathematically based comparison of sequence similarities which is used to identify genes or proteins with similar functions or motifs. The nucleic acid and protein sequences of the present application may be used as a “query sequence” to perform a search against public databases to, for example, identify other family members, related sequences or homologs. Such searches can be performed using the NBLAST and XBLAST programs (version 2.0) of Altschul, et al. (1990) J Mol. Biol. 215:403-10. BLAST nucleotide searches can be performed with the NBLAST program, score=100, wordlength=12 to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to nucleic acid molecules of the application. BLAST protein searches can be performed with the XBLAST program, score=50, wordlength=3 to obtain amino acid sequences homologous to protein molecules of the application. To obtain gapped alignments for comparison purposes, Gapped BLAST can be utilized as described in Altschul et al., (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25(17):3389-3402. When utilizing BLAST and Gapped BLAST programs, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g., XBLAST and BLAST) can be used. See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

As used herein, “identity” means the percentage of identical nucleotide or amino acid residues at corresponding positions in two or more sequences when the sequences are aligned to maximize sequence matching, i.e., taking into account gaps and insertions. Identity can be readily calculated by known methods, including but not limited to those described in (Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1988; Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1993; Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part I, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey, 1994; Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, von Heinje, G., Academic Press, 1987; and Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M Stockton Press, New York, 1991; and Carillo, H., and Lipman, D., SLAM J. Applied Math., 48: 1073 (1988). Methods to determine identity are designed to give the largest match between the sequences tested. Moreover, methods to determine identity are codified in publicly available computer programs. Computer program methods to determine identity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, the GCG program package (Devereux, J., et al., Nucleic Acids Research 12(1): 387 (1984)), BLASTP, BLASTN, and FASTA (Altschul, S. F. et al., J. Molec. Biol. 215: 403-410 (1990) and Altschul et al. Nuc. Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402 (1997)). The BLAST X program is publicly available from NCBI and other sources (BLAST Manual, Altschul, S., et al., NCBI NLM NIH Bethesda, Md. 20894; Altschul, S., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-410 (1990). The well known Smith Waterman algorithm may also be used to determine identity.

The term “isolated”, as used herein with reference to the subject proteins and protein complexes, refers to a preparation of protein or protein complex that is essentially free from contaminating proteins that normally would be present with the protein or complex, e.g., in the cellular milieu in which the protein or complex is found endogenously. Thus, an isolated protein complex is isolated from cellular components that normally would “contaminate” or interfere with the study of the complex in isolation, for instance while screening for modulators thereof. It is to be understood, however, that such an “isolated” complex may incorporate other proteins the modulation of which, by the subject protein or protein complex, is being investigated.

The term “isolated” as also used herein with respect to nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA, refers to molecules in a form which does not occur in nature. Moreover, an “isolated nucleic acid” is meant to include nucleic acid fragments which are not naturally occurring as fragments and would not be found in the natural state.

Lentiviruses include primate lentiviruses, e.g., human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1/HIV-2); simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) from Chimpanzee (SfVcpz), Sooty mangabey (SIVsmm), African Green Monkey (SIVagm), Syke's monkey (SIVsyk), Mandrill (SIVmnd) and Macaque (SIVmac). Lentiviruses also include feline lentiviruses, e.g., Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV); Bovine lentiviruses, e.g., Bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV); Ovine lentiviruses, e.g., Maedi/Visna virus (MVV) and Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV); and Equine lentiviruses, e.g., Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). All lentiviruses express at least two additional regulatory proteins (Tat, Rev) in addition to Gag, Pol, and Env proteins. Primate lentiviruses produce other accessory proteins including Nef, Vpr, Vpu, Vpx, and Vif. Generally, lentiviruses are the causative agents of a variety of disease, including, in addition to immunodeficiency, neurological degeneration, and arthritis. Nucleotide sequences of the various lentiviruses can be found in Genbank under the following Accession Nos. (from J. M. Coffin, S. H. Hughes, and H. E. Varmus, “Retroviruses” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1997 p 804): 1) HIV-1: K 03455, M 19921, K 02013, M3843 1, M38429, K02007 and M17449; 2) HIV-2: M30502, J04542, M30895, J04498, M15390, M31113 and L07625; 3) SIV:M29975, M30931, M58410, M66437, L06042, M33262, M19499, M32741, M31345 and L03295; 4) FIV: M25381, M36968 and U1 1820; 5)BIV. M32690; 6) E1AV: M16575, M87581 and U01866; 6) Visna: M10608, M51543, L06906, M60609 and M60610; 7) CAEV: M33677; and 8) Ovine lentivirus M31646 and M34193. Lentiviral DNA can also be obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). For example, feline immunodeficiency virus is available under ATCC Designation No. VR-2333 and VR-3112. Equine infectious anemia virus A is available under ATCC Designation No. VR-778. Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus is available under ATCC Designation No. VR-905. Visna virus is available under ATCC Designation No. VR-779.

As used herein, the term “nucleic acid” refers to polynucleotides such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and, where appropriate, ribonucleic acid (RNA). The term should also be understood to include, as equivalents, analogs of either RNA or DNA made from nucleotide analogs, and, as applicable to the embodiment being described, single-stranded (such as sense or antisense) and double-stranded polynucleotides.

The term “maturation” as used herein refers to the production, post-translational processing, assembly and/or release of proteins that form a viral particle. Accrodingly, this includes the processing of viral proteins leading to the pinching off of nascent virion from the cell membrane.

A “POSH nucleic acid” is a nucleic acid comprising a sequence as represented in any of SEQ ID Nos:1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 as well as any of the variants described herein.

A “POSH polypeptide” or “POSH protein” is a polypeptide comprising a sequence as represented in any of SEQ ID Nos: 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 as well as any of the variations described herein.

A “POSH-associated protein” or “POSH-AP” refers to a protein capable of interacting with and/or binding to a POSH polypeptide. Generally, the POSH-AP may interact directly or indirectly with the POSH polypeptide. Preferred POSH-APs include those provided in Table 7. Other preferred POSH-APs include those listed in Table 8. Examples of these and other POSH-APs are provided throughout.

The terms peptides, proteins and polypeptides are used interchangeably herein.

The term “purified protein” refers to a preparation of a protein or proteins which are preferably isolated from, or otherwise substantially free of, other proteins normally associated with the protein(s) in a cell or cell lysate. The term “substantially free of other cellular proteins” (also referred to herein as “substantially free of other contaminating proteins”) is defined as encompassing individual preparations of each of the component proteins comprising less than 20% (by dry weight) contaminating protein, and preferably comprises less than 5% contaminating protein. Functional forms of each of the component proteins can be prepared as purified preparations by using a cloned gene as described in the attached examples. By “purified”, it is meant, when referring to component protein preparations used to generate a reconstituted protein mixture, that the indicated molecule is present in the substantial absence of other biological macromolecules, such as other proteins (particularly other proteins which may substantially mask, diminish, confuse or alter the characteristics of the component proteins either as purified preparations or in their function in the subject reconstituted mixture). The term “purified” as used herein preferably means at least 80% by dry weight, more preferably in the range of 85% by weight, more preferably 95-99% by weight, and most preferably at least 99.8% by weight, of biological macromolecules of the same type present (but water, buffers, and other small molecules, especially molecules having a molecular weight of less than 5000, can be present). The term “pure” as used herein preferably has the same numerical limits as “purified” immediately above.

A “recombinant nucleic acid” is any nucleic acid that has been placed adjacent to another nucleic acid by recombinant DNA techniques. A “recombined nucleic acid” also includes any nucleic acid that has been placed next to a second nucleic acid by a laboratory genetic technique such as, for example, tranformation and integration, transposon hopping or viral insertion. In general, a recombined nucleic acid is not naturally located adjacent to the second nucleic acid.

The term “recombinant protein” refers to a protein of the present application which is produced by recombinant DNA techniques, wherein generally DNA encoding the expressed protein is inserted into a suitable expression vector which is in turn used to transform a host cell to produce the heterologous protein. Moreover, the phrase “derived from”, with respect to a recombinant gene encoding the recombinant protein is meant to include within the meaning of “recombinant protein” those proteins having an amino acid sequence of a native protein, or an amino acid sequence similar thereto which is generated by mutations including substitutions and deletions of a naturally occurring protein.

A “RING domain” or “Ring Finger” is a zinc-binding domain with a defined octet of cysteine and histidine residues. Certain RING domains comprise the consensus sequences as set forth below (amino acid nomenclature is as set forth in Table 1): Cys Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa₁₀₋₂₀ Cys Xaa His Xaa₂₋₅ Cys Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa₁₃₋₅₀ Cys Xaa Xaa Cys or Cys Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa₁₀₋₂₀ Cys Xaa His Xaa₂₋₅ His Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa₁₃₋₅₀ Cys Xaa Xaa Cys. Certain RING domains are represented as amino acid sequences that are at least 80% identical to amino acids 12-52 of SEQ ID NO: 2 and is set forth in SEQ ID No: 26. Preferred RING domains are 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% and, most preferably, 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26. Preferred RING domains of the application bind to various protein partners to form a complex that has ubiquitin ligase activity. RING domains preferably interact with at least one of the following protein types: F box proteins, E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzymes and cullins.

The term “RNA interference” or “RNAi” refers to any method by which expression of a gene or gene product is decreased by introducing into a target cell one or more double-stranded RNAs which are homologous to the gene of interest (particularly to the messenger RNA of the gene of interest). RNAi may also be achieved by introduction of a DNA:RNA hybrid wherein the antisense strand (relative to the target) is RNA. Either strand may include one or more modifications to the base or sugar-phosphate backbone. Any nucleic acid preparation designed to achieve an RNA interference effect is referred to herein as an siRNA construct. Phosphorothioate is a particularly common modification to the backbone of an siRNA construct.

“Small molecule” as used herein, is meant to refer to a composition, which has a molecular weight of less than about 5 kD and most preferably less than about 2.5 kD. Small molecules can be nucleic acids, peptides, polypeptides, peptidomimetics, carbohydrates, lipids or other organic (carbon containing) or inorganic molecules. Many pharmaceutical companies have extensive libraries of chemical and/or biological mixtures comprising arrays of small molecules, often fungal, bacterial, or algal extracts, which can be screened with any of the assays of the application.

An “SH3” or “Src Homology 3” domain is a protein domain of generally about 60 amino acid residues first identified as a conserved sequence in the non-catalytic part of several cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinases (e.g., Src, Abl, Lck). SH3 domains mediate assembly of specific protein complexes via binding to proline-rich peptides. Exemplary SH3 domains are represented by amino acids 137-192, 199-258, 448-505 and 832-888 of SEQ ID NO:2 and are set forth in SEQ ID Nos: 27-30. In certain embodiments, an SH3 domain interacts with a consensus sequence of RXaaXaaPXaaX6P (where X6, as defined in table 1 below, is a hydrophobic amino acid). In certain embodiments, an SH3 domain interacts with one or more of the following sequences: P(T/S)AP, PFRDY, RPEPTAP, RQGPKEP, RQGPKEPFR, RPEPTAPEE and RPLPVAP.

As used herein, the term “specifically hybridizes” refers to the ability of a nucleic acid probe/primer of the application to hybridize to at least 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or 100 consecutive nucleotides of a POSH sequence, or a sequence complementary thereto, or naturally occurring mutants thereof, such that it has less than 15%, preferably less than 10%, and more preferably less than 5% background hybridization to a cellular nucleic acid (e.g., mRNA or genomic DNA) other than the POSH gene. A variety of hybridization conditions may be used to detect specific hybridization, and the stringency is determined primarily by the wash stage of the hybridization assay. Generally high temperatures and low salt concentrations give high stringency, while low temperatures and high salt concentrations give low stringency. Low stringency hybridization is achieved by washing in, for example, about 2.0×SSC at 50° C., and high stringency is acheived with about 0.2×SSC at 50° C. Further descriptions of stringency are provided below.

As applied to polypeptides, “substantial sequence identity” means that two peptide sequences, when optimally aligned, such as by the programs GAP or BESTFIT using default gap which share at least 90 percent sequence identity, preferably at least 95 percent sequence identity, more preferably at least 99 percent sequence identity or more. Preferably, residue positions which are not identical differ by conservative amino acid substitutions. For example, the substitution of amino acids having similar chemical properties such as charge or polarity are not likely to effect the properties of a protein. Examples include glutamine for asparagine or glutamic acid for aspartic acid.

As is well known, genes for a particular polypeptide may exist in single or multiple copies within the genome of an individual. Such duplicate genes may be identical or may have certain modifications, including nucleotide substitutions, additions or deletions, which all still code for polypeptides having substantially the same activity.

A “virion” is a complete viral particle; nucleic acid and capsid (and a lipid envelope in some viruses. A “viral particle” may be incomplete, as when produced by a cell transfected with a defective virus (e.g., an HIV virus-like particle system). TABLE 1 Abbreviations for classes of amino acids* Amino Acids Symbol Category Represented X1 Alcohol Ser, Thr X2 Aliphatic Ile, Leu, Val Xaa Any Ala, Cys, Asp, Glu, Phe, Gly, His, Ile, Lys, Leu, Met, Asn, Pro, Gln, Arg, Ser, Thr, Val, Trp, Tyr X4 Aromatic Phe, His, Trp, Tyr X5 Charged Asp, Glu, His, Lys, Arg X6 Hydrophobic Ala, Cys, Phe, Gly, His, Ile, Lys, Leu, Met, Thr, Val, Trp, Tyr X7 Negative Asp, Glu X8 Polar Cys, Asp, Glu, His, Lys, Asn, Gln, Arg, Ser, Thr X9 Positive His, Lys, Arg X10 Small Ala, Cys, Asp, Gly, Asn, Pro, Ser, Thr, Val X11 Tiny Ala, Gly, Ser X12 Turnlike Ala, Cys, Asp, Glu, Gly, His, Lys, Asn, Gln, Arg, Ser, Thr X13 Asparagine-Aspartate Asn, Asp *Abbreviations as adopted from http://smart.embl-heidelberg.de/SMART_DATA/alignments/consensus/grouping.html. 2. Overview

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery of novel associations between POSH proteins and other proteins (termed POSH-APs), and related methods and compositions. In certain aspects, the application relates to novel associations among certain disease states, POSH nucleic acids and proteins, and POSH-AP nucleic acids and proteins.

In certain aspects, by identifying proteins associated with POSH, and particularly human POSH, the present application provides a conceptual link between the POSH-APs and cellular processes and disorders associated with POSH-APs, and POSH itself. Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the disclosure, agents that modulate a POSH-AP may now be used to modulate POSH functions and disorders associated with POSH function, such as viral disorders, POSH-associated cancers, and POSH-associated neural disorders. Additionally, test agents may be screened for an effect on a POSH-AP and then further tested for an effect on a POSH function or a disorder associated with POSH function. Likewise, in certain embodiments of the disclosure, agents that modulate POSH may now be used to modulate POSH-AP functions and disorders associated with POSH-AP function, including a variety of cancers. Additionally, test agents may be screened for an effect on POSH and then further tested for effect on a POSH-AP function or a disorder associated with POSH-AP function. In further aspects, the application provides nucleic acid agents (e.g., RNAi probes, antisense nucleic acids), antibody-related agents, small molecules and other agents that affect POSH function, and the use of same in modulating POSH and/or POSH-AP activity.

POSH intersects with and regulates a wide range of key cellular functions that may be manipulated by affecting the level of and/or activity of POSH polypeptides or POSH-AP polypeptides. Many features of POSH, and particularly human POSH, are described in PCT patent publications WO03/095971A2 (application no. WO2002US0036366) and WO03/078601A2 (application no. WO2003US0008194) the teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein.

As described in the above-referenced publications, native human POSH is a large polypeptide containing a RING domain and four SH3 domains. POSH is a ubiquitin ligase (also termed an “E3” enzyme); the RING domain mediates ubiquitination of, for example, the POSH polypeptide itself. POSH interacts with a large number of proteins and participates in a host of different biological processes. As demonstrated in this disclosure, POSH associates with a number of different proteins in the cell. POSH co-localizes with proteins that are known to be located in the trans-Golgi network, implying that POSH participates in the trafficking of proteins in the secretory system. The term “secretory system” should be understood as referring to the membrane compartments and associated proteins and other molecules that are involved in the movement of proteins from the site of translation to a location within a vacuole, a compartment in the secretory pathway itself, a lysosome or endosome or to a location at the plasma membrane or outside the cell. Commonly cited examples of compartments in the secretory system include the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus and the cis and trans Golgi networks. In addition, Applicants have demonstrated that POSH is necessary for proper secretion, localization or processing of a variety of proteins, including phospholipase D, HIV Gag, HIV Nef, Rapsyn and Src. Many of these proteins are myristoylated, indicating that POSH plays a general role in the processing and proper localization of myristoylated proteins. N-myristoylation is an acylation process, which results in covalent attachment of myristate, a 14-carbon saturated fatty acid to the N-terminal glycine of proteins (Farazi et al., J. Biol. Chem. 276: 39501-04 (2001)). N-myristoylation occurs co-translationaly and promotes weak and reversible protein-membrane interaction. Myristoylated proteins are found both in the cytoplasm and associated with membrane. Membrane association is dependent on protein configuration, i.e., surface accessibility of the myristoyl group may be regulated by protein modifications, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination etc. Modulation of intracellular transport of myristoylated proteins in the application includes effects on transport and localization of these modified proteins.

As described herein, POSH and POSH-APs are involved in viral maturation, including the production, post-translational processing, assembly and/or release of proteins in a viral particle. Accordingly, viral infections may be ameliorated by inhibiting an activity (e.g., ubiquitin ligase activity or target protein interaction) of POSH or a POSH-AP (e.g., inhibition of kinase activity or ubiquitin ligase activity), and in preferred embodiments, the virus is a retroid virus, an RNA virus or an envelope virus, including HIV, Ebola, HBV, HCV, HTLV, West Nile Virus (WNV) or Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (MMuLV). Additional viral species are described in greater detail below. In certain instances, a decrease of a POSH function is lethal to cells infected with a virus that employs POSH in release of viral particles.

In certain aspects, the application describes an hPOSH interaction with Rac, a small GTPase and the POSH associated kinases MLK, MKK and JNK. Rho, Rac and Cdc42 operate together to regulate organization of the actin cytoskeleton and the MLK-MKK-JNK MAP kinase pathway (referred to herein as the “JNK pathway” or “Rac-JNK pathway” (Xu et al., 2003, EMBO J. 2: 252-61). Ectopic expression of mouse POSH (“mPOSH”) activates the JNK pathway and causes nuclear localization of NF-κB. Overexpression of mPOSH in fibroblasts stimulates apoptosis. (Tapon et al. (1998) EMBO J. 17:1395-404). In Drosophila, POSH may interact with, or otherwise influence the signaling of, another GTPase, Ras. (Schnorr et al. (2001) Genetics 159: 609-22). The JNK pathway and NF-κB regulate a variety of key genes involved in, for example, immune responses, inflammation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. For example, NF-κB regulates the production of interleukin 1, interleukin 8, tumor necrosis factor and many cell adhesion molecules. NF-κB has both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic roles in the cell (e.g., in FAS-induced cell death and TNF-alpha signaling, respectively). NF-κB is negatively regulated, in part, by the inhibitor proteins IκBα and IκBβ (collectively termed “IκB”). Phosphorylation of IκB permits activation and nuclear localization of NF-κB. Phosphorylation of IκB triggers its degradation by the ubiquitin system. In an additional embodiment, a POSH polypeptide promotes nuclear localization of NF-κB. In further embodiments, manipulation of POSH levels and/or activities may be used to manipulate apoptosis. By upregulating POSH or a POSH-AP, apoptosis may be stimulated in certain cells, and this will generally be desirable in conditions characterized by excessive cell proliferation (e.g., in certain cancers). By downregulating POSH or a POSH-AP, apoptosis may be diminished in certain cells, and this will generally be desirable in conditions characterized by excessive cell death, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, degenerative diseases of muscle and nerve (particularly Alzheimer's disease), and for organ preservation prior to transplant. In a further embodiment, a POSH polypeptide associates with a vesicular trafficking complex, such as a clathrin- or coatomer-containing complex, and particularly a trafficking complex that localizes to the nucleus and/or Golgi apparatus.

As described in WO03/078601A2 (application no. WO2003US0008194), POSH is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, and downregulation of POSH is associated with a decrease in proliferation in at least one cancer cell line. Accordingly, agents that modulate POSH itself or a POSH-AP may be used to treat POSH associated cancers. POSH associated cancers include those cancers in which POSH is overexpressed and/or in which downregulation of POSH leads to a decrease in the proliferation or survival of cancer cells. POSH-associated cancers are described in more detail below. In addition, it is notable that many proteins shown herein to be affected by POSH downregulation are themselves involved in cancers. Phospholipase D and SRC are both aberrantly processed in a POSH-impaired cell, and therefore modulation of POSH and/or a POSH-AP may affect the wide range of cancers in which PLD and SRC play a significant role.

As described in WO03/095971A2 (application no. WO2002US0036366) and WO03/078601A2 (application no. WO2003US0008194), POSH polypeptides function as E3 enzymes in the ubiquitination system. Accordingly, downregulation or upregulation of POSH ubiquitin ligase activity can be used to manipulate biological processes that are affected by protein ubiquitination. Modulation of POSH ubiquitin ligase activity may be used to affect POSH-APs and related biological processes, and likewise, modulation of POSH-APs may be used to affect POSH ubiquitin ligase activity and related processes. Downregulation or upregulation may be achieved at any stage of POSH formation and regulation, including transcriptional, translational or post-translational regulation. For example, POSH transcript levels may be decreased by RNAi targeted at a POSH gene sequence. As another example, POSH ubiquitin ligase activity may be inhibited by contacting POSH with an antibody that binds to and interferes with a POSH RING domain or a domain of POSH that mediates interaction with a target protein (a protein that is ubiquitinated at least in part because of POSH activity). As a further example, small molecule inhibitors of POSH ubiquitin ligase activity are provided herein. As another example, POSH activity may be increased by causing increased expression of POSH or an active portion thereof. POSH, and POSH-APs that modulate POSH ubiquitin ligase activity may participate in biological processes including, for example, one or more of the various stages of a viral lifecycle, such as viral entry into a cell, production of viral proteins, assembly of viral proteins and release of viral particles from the cell. POSH may participate in diseases characterized by the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, such as dementias (e.g., Alzheimer's and Pick's), inclusion body myositis and myopathies, polyglucosan body myopathy, and certain forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. POSH may participate in diseases characterized by excessive or inappropriate ubiquitination and/or protein degradation.

3. POSH Associated Proteins

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery of novel associations between POSH proteins and other proteins (termed POSH-APs), and related methods and compositions. In certain aspects, the application relates to novel associations among certain disease states, POSH nucleic acids and proteins, and POSH-AP nucleic acids and proteins. POSH-APs may interact either directly or indirectly with POSH. In certain embodiments, a POSH-AP binds directly to a POSH polypeptide.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with one subunit of Protein Kinase A (PKA; cAMP-dependent protein kinase). In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with PRKAR1A. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. Exemplary PKA subunits may include, but are not limited to, a regulatory subunit (e.g., PRKAR1A) and a catalytic subunit (e.g., PRKACA or PRKACB). PKA is an essential enzyme in the signaling pathway of the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP). Through phosphorylation of target proteins, PKA controls many biochemical events in the cell including regulation of metabolism, ion transport, and gene transcription. The PKA holoenzyme is composed of two regulatory and two catalytic subunits and dissociates from the regulatory subunits upon binding of cAMP. The PKA enzyme is inactive in the absence of cAMP. Activation of PKA occurs when two cAMP molecules bind to each regulatory subunit, eliciting a reversible conformational change that releases active catalytic subunits.

A number of human PKA subunits have been characterized, including a regulatory subunit (type I alpha: PRKAR1) and two catalytic subunits (C-alpha: PRKACA; and C-beta: PRKACB). Boshart et al. identified the regulatory subunit PRKAR1 of PKA as the product of the TSE1 locus (Boshart, M et al. (1991) Cell 66: 849-859). The evidence consisted of concordant expression of PRKAR1 mRNA and TSE1 genetic activity, high resolution physical mapping of the two genes on human chromosome 17, and the ability of transfected PRKAR1 cDNA to generate a phenocopy of TSE1-mediated extinction. Jones et al. independently established identity of TSE1 and the RI-alpha subunit (Jones, K W et al. (1991) Cell 66: 861-872).

Other than a role of PKA in metabolism, PKA subunits have recently been implicated in multiple diseases. For example, a specific role for localized PRKAR1 has been demonstrated in human T lymphocytes, where type I PKA localizes to the activated TCR complex and is required for attenuation of signals propagated through this complex (Skalhegg, B S et al. (1992) J Biol Chem 267:15707-15714; Skalhegg, B S et al. (1994) Science 263: 84-87). The importance of type I PKA-mediated effects in attenuation of T cell replication has led to its consideration as a therapeutic target in combined variable immunodeficiency (CVI) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Furthermore, type I PKA in T cells may also serve as a potential therapeutic target in systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE). For example, a series of recently published articles has uncovered the first human disease mapping to a PKA subunit-Carney complex (Casey, M et al. (2000) J Clin Invest 106: R31-38; Kirschner, L S et al. (2000) Nat Genet 26: 89-92). Carney complex (CNC) is a multiple neoplasia syndrome characterized by spotty skin pigmentation, cardiac and skin myxomas, endocrine tumors, and psammomatous melanotic schwannomas. CNC maps to two genomic loci, 17q24 and 2p16. Familial cases mapping to the 17q24 locus reveal deletions/mutations in the PRKAR1 coding exons leading to frameshifts and premature stop codons—no mRNA and protein from the mutant alleles has been observed.

Accordingly, in certain aspects of the present disclosure, POSH participates in the formation of PKA complexes, including human PKA-containing complexes. Certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in disorders of the immune system, e.g., autoimmune disorders. Certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in the regulation of T-cell activation. In certain aspects, POSH participates in the ubiquitination of P13K. In certain aspects, PKA subunit polypeptides participate in POSH-mediated processes.

Additionally, the disclosure relates in part to the discovery that PKA phosphorylates POSH, and further, that this phosphorylation inhibits the interaction of POSH with small GTPases, such as Rac. Small GTPases are important in vesicular trafficking, and therefore the findings disclosed herein demonstrate that POSH phosphorylation regulates the formation of complexes between POSH and proteins involved in the secretory system, such as Rac, TCL, TC10, Cdc42, Wrch-1, Rac2, Rac3 or RhoG. Applicants have shown that inhibition of PKA and POSH has similar effects, indicating that inhibition of PKA will achieve an effect similar to that of inhibition of POSH. However, given the effect of PKA on POSH interaction with proteins in the secretory pathway, it is expected that PKA regulates the timing of cyclical interactions that are needed to effect vesicular trafficking. Accordingly, it is expected that significant inhibition or activation of PKA will cause a disruption in POSH function.

The term “PKA subunit” is used herein to refer to a full-length human PKA subunit which includes a regulatory subunit (e.g., PRKAR1A) and a catalytic subunit (e.g., PRKACB or PRKACA), as well as an alternative PKA subunit composed of separate PKA subunit sequences (e.g., nucleic acid sequences) that may be a splice variant. The term “PKA subunit” is used herein to refer as well to various naturally occurring PKA subunit homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring PKA subunit (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 264-265, 111-122, 395-396). The term specifically includes human PKA subunit nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with human UNC84B, a human homolog of C. elegans Unc-84. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and UNC84B. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with UNC84B. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. In C. elegans, Unc-84 is involved in the cellular positioning of the nucleus. UNC84/SUN is positioned at the nuclear membrane and recruits Syne/ANC-1, which directly tethers the nuclear envelope to the actin cytoskeleton. Accordingly, in certain aspects, POSH participates in formation of a UNC84 complexes, including human UNC84B-containing complexes, and in the connections between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton. In certain aspects, UNC84 polypeptides participate in POSH-mediated processes. See, for example, Starr and Han, 2003, J Cell Sci 116(Pt 2):211-6.

The term UNC84 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring Unc-84 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring UNC84 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 314, 211-213). The term specifically includes human UNC84B nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with human GOCAP1. Certain GOCAP1 polypeptides are cytoplasmic proteins associated with the Golgi complex. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and GOCAP1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with GOCAP1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. In certain aspects, these complexes associate with the Golgi complex. GOCAP1 is synonymous with GCP60. Certain GCP60 polypeptides interact with the Golgi complex integral membrane protein, giantin. Certain GCP60 polypeptides are involved in the maintenance of the Golgi structure through interaction with giantin and affect protein transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex (Sohda, M, et al. (2001) J Biol Chem 276:45298-306). In certain aspects, GOCAP1 polypeptides participate in POSH-mediated processes.

The term GOCAP1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring GOCAP1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring GOCAP1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 240-243, 61-68). The term specifically includes human GOCAP1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with human PTPN12, a protein tyrosine phosphatase. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and PTPN12. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with PTPN12. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. PTPN12 polypeptides are synonymous with the protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTP-PEST. PTP-PEST polypeptides contain proline-rich sequences and are rich in proline, glutamate, serine, and threonine residues at their carboxyl terminus, features characteristic of PEST motifs. Certain PTP-PEST polypeptides interact with paxillin, a scaffolding protein to which focal adhesion proteins bind, leading to the formation of the focal adhesion contact (Shen, Y et al. (1998) J Biol Chem 273:6474-81). Certain PTP-PEST polypeptides associate with the focal adhesion protein, p130cas (Garton, A J et al. (1997) Oncogene 15:877-85). Certain PTP-PEST polypeptides have also been shown to associate with JAK2, PSTPIP and WASP, gelsolin, cell adhesion kinase beta, Csk, Hef 1 or Sin, Hic-5, or Shc (See, for example, Horsch, et al (2001) Mol Endocrinol 15:2182-96; Cote, et al (2002) J Biol Chem 277:2973-86; Chellaiah, et al (2001) J Biol Chem 276:47434-44; Lyons, et al (2001) J Biol Chem 276:24422-31; Davidson, et al (1997) J Biol Chem 21:1077-88; Cote, J F et al (1998) Biochemistry 37:13128-37; Nishiya, N (1999) J Biol Chem 274:9847-53; Habib, T et al (1994) J Biol Chem 269:25243-6). Certain PTP-PEST polypeptides are involved in inactivation of the Ras pathway (Davidson, D and Veillette, A (2001) EMBO J 20:3414-26). The expression level of certain PTP-PEST polypeptides can modulate the activity of the GTPase, Rac1 (Sastry, et al (2002) J Cell Sci 115(Pt 22): 4305-16). Certain PTP-PEST polypeptides are involved in the regulation of cell motility (Garton, A J and Tonks, N K (1999) J Biol Chem 274:3811-8; Angers-Loustau, et al (1999) J Cell Biol 144:1019-31; and Sastry, et al. (2002) J Cell Sci 155(Pt 22): 4305-16). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides are involved in inactivation of the Ras pathway. Certain POSH polypeptides are involved in the regulation of cell motility.

Certain PTP-PEST polypeptides are involved in amyloidβ-induced neuronal dystrophy, a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (Grace, E A and Busciglio, J (2003) J Neurosci. 23:493-502). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in Alzheimer's disease. Certain PTP-PEST polypeptides function as negative regulators of lymphocyte activation (Davidson, D and Veillette, A (2001) EMBO J 20:3414-26). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in the regulation of lymphocyte activation. In certain aspects, PTPN12 polypeptides participate in POSH-mediated processes.

The term PTPN12 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring PTPN12 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring PTPN12 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 266-268, 123-129). The term specifically includes human PTPN12 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with HERPUD1, a “homocysteine-inducible, endoplasmic reticulum stress-inducible, ubiquitin-like domain member 1” protein. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and HERPUD1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with HERPUD1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. HERPUD1 is synonymous with Herp. In part, the present application relates to the discovery that a POSH-AP, HERPUD1, is involved in the maturation of an envelope virus, such as HIV.

Certain HERPUD1 polypeptides are involved in JNK-mediated apoptosis, particularly in vascular endothelial cells, including cells that are exposed to high levels of homocysteine. Certain HERPUD1 polypeptides are involved in the Unfolded Protein Response, a cellular response to the presence of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Certain HERPUD1 polypeptides are involved in the regulation of sterol biosynthesis. Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides are involved in the Unfolded Protein Response and sterol biosynthesis.

In other aspects, certain HERPUD1 polypeptides enhance presenilin-mediated amyloid β-protein generation. For example, HERPUD1 polypeptides, when overexpressed in cells, increase the level of amyloid β generation, and it is observed that HERPUD1 polypeptides interact with the presenilin proteins, presenilin-1 and presenilin-2. (See Sai, X. et al (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277:12915-12920). Accordingly, in certain aspects, POSH polypeptides may modulate the level of amyloid β generation. Additionally, POSH polypeptides may interact with presenilin 1 and presenilin 2. Therefore, it is believed certain POSH polypeptides modulate presenilin-mediated amyloid β generation. The accumulation of amyloid β is one hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Accordingly, these POSH polypeptides may be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. At sites such as late intracellular compartment sites including the trans-Golgi network, certain mutant presenilin-2 polypeptides up-regulate production of amyloid β peptides ending at position 42 (Aβ42). (See Iwata, H. et al (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276: 21678-21685). Accordingly, POSH polypeptides regulate production of Aβ342 through mutant presenilin-2 at late intracellular compartment sites including the trans-Golgi network. Furthermore, elevated homocysteine levels have been found to be a risk factor associated with Alzheimer's disease and cerebral vascular disease. Some risk factors, such as elevated plasma homocysteine levels, may accelerate or increase the severity of several central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine were found in young male patients with schizophrenia suggesting that elevated homocysteine levels could be related to the pathophysiology of aspects of schizophrenia (Levine, J. et al (2002) Am. J. Psychiatry 159:1790-2). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in neurological disorders. Neurological disorders include disorders associated with increased levels of plasma homocysteine, increased levels of amyloid β production, or aberrant presenilin acitivity. Neurological disorders include CNS disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebral vascular disease and schizophrenia. Certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in cardiovascular diseases, such as thromboembolic vascular disease, and particularly the disease characteristics associated with hyperhomocysteinemia. See, for example, Kokame et al. 2000 J. Biol. Chem. 275:32846-53; Zhang et al. 2001 Biochem Biophys Res Commun 289:718-24.

The term HERPUD1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring HERPUD1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring HERPUD1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 249-252, 77-86). The term specifically includes human HERPUD1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with one or more Cbl-b polypeptides. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and Cbl-b. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with Cbl-b. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. Cbl-b polypeptides contain an amino-terminal variant SH2 domain, a RING finger, and a carboxyl-terminal proline-rich domain with potential tyrosine phosphorylation sites. Cbl-b is highly homologous to the mammalian Cbl and the nematode Sli-1 proteins. This application provides four Cbl-b variants and shows that the POSH polypeptide interacts with one or more of these variants. In one aspect, the POSH polypeptide interacts with a human Cbl-b (UniGene No.: Hs.3144). In another aspect, the POSH polypeptide interacts with an alternative human Cbl-b (UniGene No.: Hs.381921) that may be a splice variant of Cbl-b. In yet another aspect, the POSH polypeptide interacts with a human Cbl-b polypeptide that is a splice variant represented by the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 361, which is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 359. In yet another aspect, the POSH polypeptide interacts with a human Cbl-b polypeptide that is a splice variant represented by the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 398, which is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 360.

Certain Cbl-b polypeptides have been shown to function as adaptor proteins by interacting with other signaling molecules, e.g., interaction with cell surface receptor tyrosine kinases, e.g., EGFR (Ettenberg, S A et al (2001) J Biol Chem 276:77-84) or with proteins such as Syk (Elly, C et al (1999) Oncogene 18:1147-56), Crk-L (Elly, C et al (1999) Oncogene 18:1147-56), PI3K (Fang, D et al. (2001) J Biol Chem 16:4872-8), Grb2 (Ettenberg, S A et al (1999) Oncogene 18:1855-66), or Vav (Bustelo, X R et al. (1997) Oncogene 15:2511-20). Certain Cbl-b polypeptides have been demonstrated to interact directly with the nucleotide exchange factor, Vav (Bustelo, X R et al. (1997) Oncogene 15:2511-20). Certain Cbl-b polypeptides have been shown to function as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that recognizes tyrosine phosphorylated substrates through its SH2 domain and through its RING domain, recruits a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, E2 (Joazeiro, C et al. (1999) Science 286:309-312) Additionally, certain Cbl-b polypeptides have been shown to associate directly with the p85 subunit of PI3K and to function as an E3 ligase in the ubiquitination of PI3K (Fang, D et al. (2001) J Biol Chem 16:4872-8).

Certain Cbl-b polypeptides are negative regulators of T-cell activation. Cbl-b-deficient mice become very susceptible to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (Chiang, Y J et al. (2000) Nature 403:216-220). Also, Cbl-b-deficient mice develop spontaneous autoimmunity (Bachmaier, K, et al (2000) Nature 403:211-216). Furthermore, Cbl-b is a major susceptibility gene for rat type 1 diabetes mellitus (Yokoi, N et al (2002) Nature Genet. 31:391-394).

Accordingly, in certain aspects, POSH participates in the formation of Cbl-b complexes, including human Cbl-b-containing complexes. Certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in disorders of the immune system, e.g., autoimmune disorders. Certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in the regulation of T-cell activation. In certain aspects, POSH participates in the ubiquitination of PI3K. In certain aspects, Cbl-b polypeptides participate in POSH-mediated processes.

The term Cbl-b is used herein to refer to full-length, human Cbl-b (UniGene No.: Hs.3144) as well as an alternative Cbl-b (UniGene No.: Hs.381921) composed of two separate Cbl-b sequences (e.g., nucleic acid sequences) that may be a splice variant. The term Cbl-b is used herein to refer as well to the human Cbl-b splice variant represented by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 361, which is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 359 and to the human Cbl-b splice variant represented by the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 398, which is encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 360. The term Cbl-b is used herein to refer as well to various naturally occurring Cbl-b homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring Cbl-b (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 361, 398, 227-230, 353-360). The term specifically includes human Cbl-b nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with GOSR2. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and GOSR2. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with GOSR2. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. Certain GOSR2 polypeptides are synonymous with GS27 (for Golgi SNARE of 27K) and are involved in trafficking membrane proteins between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi and between Golgi subcompartments such as between the cis-, medial- and trans-Golgi network. (See, for example, Lowe, S L et al (1997) Nature 389:881-4 and Bui, T D et al (1999) 57:285-8). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides are involved in the trafficking of membrane proteins between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi and between Golgi subcompartments.

The term GOSR2 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring GOSR2 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring GOSR2 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 244-248, 69-76). The term specifically includes human GOSR2 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with RALA. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and RALA. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with RALA. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. RALA polypeptides are GTP-binding polypeptides. RALA polypeptides are members of the Ras family of proteins and are GTPases. Certain RALA polypeptides may be synonymous with RalA polypeptides. RalA polypeptides are small GTPases. RalA polypeptides have been shown to interact with phospholipase D and to effect phospholipase D activity. Additionally, RalA polypeptides may be involved in tumor formation and cell transformation. (See, for example, Kim, J H et al (1998) FEBS Lett 430:231-5; Aguirre-Ghiso, J A et al (1999) Oncogene 18:4718-25; Lu, Z et al (2000) Mol Cell Biol 20:462-7; Gildea, J J et al (2002) Cancer Res 62:982-5; Lucas, L et al (2002) Int J Oncol 21:477-85; and Xu, L et al (2003) Mol Cell Biol 23:645-54). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides may interact with PLD and modulate its activity, and certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in tumor formation and cell transformation. In other aspects, certain RalA polypeptides interact with calmodulin and may be involved in calcium/calmodulin-mediated intracellular signaling pathways (Clough, R R et al (2002) J Biol Chem 277:28972-80). Certain RalA polypeptides are involved in controlling actin cytoskeletal remodeling and vesicle transport in mammalian cells. Certain RalA polypeptides interact with the exocyst complex, which is involved in exocytosis. (See, for example, Sugihara, K et al (2002) Nat Cell Biol 4:73-8; Polzin, A et al (2002) Mol Cell Biol 22:1714-22; and Lipschutz, J H and Mostov, K E (2002) Curr Biol 12(6):R212-4). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides are involved in vesicle transport.

The term RALA is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring RALA homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring RALA (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 269-270, 130-134). The term specifically includes human RALA nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with SMN1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and SMN1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with SMN1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. SMN1 polypeptides are encoded by the nucleic acid of the survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1). Mutations in this gene (such as its homozygous absence) cause spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a common autosomal recessive disorder characterized by degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to progressive paralysis with muscular atrophy. Accordingly, POSH may be involved in the pathogenesis of SMA. SMN1 is part of a multiprotein complex that is required for biogenesis of the Sm class of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (Sm snRNPs). SMN1 associates with a number of proteins, such as Gemin2 to Gemin6, to form a large complex found in both the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. SMN1 also associates with Snurportin 1, an adaptor protein that recognizes the nuclear localization signal of Sm snRNPs. (See, for example, Lefebvre, S et al (1995) Cell 80:155-65; Narayanan, U et al (2002) Hum Mol Genet 11:1785-95; Massenet, S et al (2002) 22:6533-41; and Monani, U R et al (1999) Hum Mol Genet 8:1177-83). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in the biogenesis of snRNPs. Certain SMN1 polypeptides interact with the large nonstructural protein NS1 of the autonomous parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVM). NS1 is essential for viral replication, and it is a potent transcriptional activator (Young, P J et al (2002) J Virol 76:3892-904). Certain SMN1 polypeptides interact with the protein NS2 of MVM. NS2 is also required for efficient viral replication. Certain SMN1 polypeptides colocalize with NS2 in infected nuclei and at late times following MVM infection. (See Young, P J et al (2002) J Virol 76:6364-9). Accordingly, POSH polypeptides are involved in viral replication.

The term SMN1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring SMN1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring SMN1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 273-275, 142-146). The term specifically includes human SMN1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with SMN2. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and SMN2. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with SMN2. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. The SMN2 gene is an almost identical copy of the SMN1 gene that causes SMA. A critical difference between the two genes is a 1 nucleotide base change inside exon 7 that affects the splicing pattern of the genes. The majority of the SMN2 transcript lacks exon 7. Certain SMN2 polypeptides influence the severity of SMA. (See, for example, Monani, U R et al (1999) Hum Mol Genet 8: 1177-83; Cartegni, L and Krainer, A R (2002) Nat Genet 30:377-84; and Feldkotter, M et al (2002) Am J Hum Genet 70: 358-68). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides may influence the severity of SMA.

The term SMN2 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring SMN2 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring SMN2 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 276-280, 147-151). The term specifically includes human SMN2 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with SIAH1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and SIAH1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with SIAH1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. Certain SIAH1 polypeptides bind ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes and target proteins for proteasome-mediated degradation. Certain SIAH1 polypeptides are involved in targeting beta-catenin for degradation (Matsuzawa, S

J C (2001) Molec Cell 7: 915-926 and Liu, J et al (2001) Molec Cell 7: 927-936). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides are involved in the targeting of beta-catenin for degradation. Certain SIAH1 polypeptides are E3 ubiquitin ligases and regulate the ubiquitination and degradation of synaptophysin (Wheeler, T C et al. (2002) J Biol Chem 277: 10273-92). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides are involved in the ubiquitination and degardation of synaptophysin. Certain SIAH1 polypeptides regulate the protein, DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer), via the ubiquitin-proteosome pathway (Hu, G et al. (1997) Genes Dev 11: 2701-14). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides are involved in the ubiquitination and degardation of DCC. Certain SIAH1 polypeptides are a target of activation of p53 and are upregulated by p53, and certain SIAH1 polypeptides are involved in apoptosis, tumor suppression, as well as vertebrate development (Maeda, A et al (2002) FEBS Lett 512: 223-226; Hu, G et al (1997) Genomics 46:103-111; and Nemani, M et al (1996) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93: 9039-9042). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides may be a target of p53 activation, and certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in apoptosis and tumor suppression.

The term SIAH1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring SIAH1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring SIAH1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 271-272, 135-141). The term specifically includes human SIAH1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with SYNE1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and SYNE1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with SYNE1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. SYNE1 polypeptides are synonymous with Syne-1, myne-1, and nesprin-1 polypeptides. Syne-1 polypeptides are associated with nuclear envelopes in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle cells. Syne-1 polypeptides contain multiple spectrin repeats. In muscle, myne-1 expression is observed in the inner nuclear envelope, and myne-1 has been shown to interact with the inner nuclear membrane protein lamin A/C. Syne-1 also associates with the nuclear envelope protein, emerin. Syne-1 polypeptides may be involved in maintaining nuclear organization and structural integrity, and certain Syne-1 polypeptides may be involved in the migration of myonuclei in myotubes and/or their anchoring at the postsynaptic apparatus. (See, for example, Apel et al (2000) J Biol Chem 275:31986-95; Zhang, Q et al (2001) J Cell Sci 114:4485-98; Zhang, Q et al (2002) Genomics 80:473-81; and Mislow, J M et al (2002) J Cell Sci 115 (Pt 1):61-70). Accordingly, certain POSH polypeptides may interact with the lamin A/C polypeptides and/or emerin polypeptides. Also, certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in maintaining nuclear organization and structural integrity, and certain POSH polypeptides may be involved in the migration of myonuclei in myotubes and/or their anchoring at the postsynaptic apparatus.

The term SYNE1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring SYNE1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring SYNE1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 295-307, 183-201). The term specifically includes human SYNE1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with TTC3. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and TTC3. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with TTC3 This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. Certain TTC3 polypeptides are synonymous with the proteins, TPRDI, TPRDII, TRPDIII, TPRD and DCRR1 and may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain characteristics of Down syndrome, such as morphological features, hypotonia, and mental retardation (Tsukahar, F et al (1996) J Biochem (Tokyo) 120: 820-827; Ohira, M et al (1996) DNA Res 3: 9-16; Dahmane, N et al (1998) Genomics 48: 12-23; and Eki, T et al (1997) DNA Seq 7:153-164).

The term TTC3 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring TTC3 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring TTC3 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 308-312, 202-207). The term specifically includes human TTC3 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with VCY2IP1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and VCY2IP1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with VCY2IP1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. VCY2IP1 is synonymous with VCY2IP-1, which has been shown to interact with the testis-specific protein, VCY2. VCY2IP1 is also synonymous with C19orf5, which has been shown to interact with the tumor suppressor, RASSF1, suggesting a role for C19orf5 in apoptosis and tumor suppression (In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim (2002) 38:582-94). C19orf5 also demonstrates a strong homology to microtubule-associated proteins (Genomics (2002) 79:124-6). Accordingly, POSH may play a role in apoptosis and tumor suppression.

The term VCY2IP1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring VCY2IP1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring VCY2IP1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 315-323, 214-222). The term specifically includes human VCY2IP1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with MSTP028. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with MSTP028. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. In part, the present application relates to the discovery that a POSH-AP, MSTP028, is involved in the maturation of an envelope virus, such as HIV. Certain MSTP028 polypeptides contain one or more BTB/POZ domains that are generally involved in dimerization. Accordingly the application provides complexes comprising POSH and MSTP028, optionally in a dimeric form. The term MSTP028 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring MSTP028 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring MSTP028 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 255-256, 90-94). The term specifically includes human MSTP028 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with SNX1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and SNX1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with SNX1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. SNX1 is a member of the sorting nexin (SNX) protein family, which is implicated in regulating membrane traffic. SNX1 is a membrane associated protein that has been shown to be involved with targeting receptors to lysosomal degradation. SNX1 has been shown to bind to the C-terminal tail of the D5 dopamine receptor (Mol Cell Biol (1998) 18: 7278-87). Accordingly, in certain aspects POSH may associate with the D5 dopamine receptor. SNX1 is involved in regulating the targeting of internalized epidermal growth factor receptors for lysosomal degradation (Science (1996) 272:1008-1010). In certain aspects, POSH may be involved in targeting proteins for degradation to the lysosome. SNX1 has also been found to be involved in sorting PAR1, a G-protein coupled receptor for thrombin (Mol Cell Biol (2002) 13:1965-76). It has further been demonstrated that SNX1 functions in regulating trafficking in the endosome compartment via recognition of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol through the phox homology domain (PX domain) of SNX1 (Proc Natl Acad Sci (2002) 99:6767-72).

The term SNX1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring SNX1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring SNX1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 281-286, 152-161). The term specifically includes human SNX1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In additional embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with SNX3. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and SNX3. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with SNX3. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. SNX3 is also a member of the SNX protein family. SNX3 has been shown to associate with the early endosome through its PX domain, a domain capable of interaction with phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (Nat Cell Biol (2002) 3:658-66). Accordingly, POSH may be involved in membrane traffic at the early endosome.

The term SNX3 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring SNX3 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring SNX3 (e.g., SEQ ID NOS: 287-290, 162-174). The term specifically includes human SNX3 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In further embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with ATP6V0C. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and ASTP6V0C. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with ATP6V0C. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. ATP6V0C, vacuolar-H(+)-ATPase, is a large multimeric protein composed of at least twelve distinct subunits and it is involved in the H(+) transport across cellular membranes. ATP6V0C is synonymous with ATP6L. Treatment with anticancer agents has been shown to enhance ATP6L expression (Cytogenet Genome Res (2002) 97:111-5; J Biol Chem (2002) 277:36534-43).

The term ATP6V0C is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring ATP6V0C homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring ATP6V0C (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 225-226, 345-351). The term specifically includes human ATP6V0C nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with PPP1CA. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and PPP1CA. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with PPP1CA. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. PPP1CA is the protein phosphatase type 1 alpha catalytic subunit. The genetic and expression status of the PPP1CA gene was examined in 55 human cancer cell lines and found to be ubiquitously expressed and lacking in genetic variation, suggesting an essential role for PPP1CA in the growth of cancer cells (Int J Oncol (2001) 18:817-24).

The term PPP1CA is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring PPP1CA homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring PPP1CA (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 261-263, 101-110). The term specifically includes human PPP1CA nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

The application further relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with DDEF1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and DDEF1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with DDEF1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. DDEF1 is a putative candidate gene associated with Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS), the most common monogenic cause of neural tube defects (Hum Genet (2002) 111:654-61).

The term DDEF1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring DDEF1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring DDEF1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 233-237, 48-54). The term specifically includes human DDEF1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with PACS-1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and PACS-1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with PACS-1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. PACS-1 is a cytosolic sorting protein that directs localization of membrane proteins in the TGN/endosomal system. PACS-1 is a cytosolic protein involved in controlling the correct subcellular localization of integral membrane proteins that contain acidic cluster sorting motifs, such as furin and HIV-1 Nef, and PACS-1 has been shown to interact with the adaptor complexes AP-1 and AP-3 (EMBO J (2003) 22:6234-44; EMBO J (2001) 20:2191-201). Furthermore, PACS-1 polypeptides have been shown to interact with Nef and through this interaction, by a PI3K-dependent proces, MHC class I molecules are downregulated by Nef (Cell (2002) 11:853-66). Accordingly, POSH may be involved in Nef-mediated downregulation of MHC class I molecules in a cell infected with HIV-1. Additionally, PACS-1 interacts with the HIV-1 protein, Vpu. Vpu expresses an acidic amino acid sorting motif that is required for TGN localization through a retroviral process mediated by PACS-1 (Wan, L et al (1998) Cell 94:205-216). Accordingly, in certain aspects, POSH may associate with Vpu through its interaction with PACS-1.

The term PACS-1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring PACS-1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring PACS-1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 362-366, 95-100). The term specifically includes human PACS-1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with EPS8L2. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and EPS8L2. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with EPS8L2. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. EPS8L2 is an eps8-related protein. Eps8 forms a multimeric complex with Sos-1, Abi1 and PI3K that is required for Rac activation leading to actin remodelling. EPS8L2 has been shown to interact with Abi1 and Sos-1. EPS8L2 also has been shown to localize to PDGF-induced F-actin-rich ruffles and to restore receptor tyrosine kinase mediated actin remodeling when expressed in eps8−/− fibroblasts (Mol Biol Cell (2004) 15:91-8).

The term EPS8L2 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring EPS8L2 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring EPS8L2 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 239, 58-60). The term specifically includes human EPS8L2 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

The application additionally relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with HIP55. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and HIP55. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with HIP55. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. HIP55 is a cytoplasmic adaptor protein that has been shown to bind to the cytoplasmic tail of the CD2v protein of African swine fever virus (J Gen Virol (2004) 85:119-30). HIP55 (synonymous with mAbp1 and SH3P7) comprises an SH3 domain and through its SH3 domain, associates with dynamin (J Cell Biol (2001) 153:351-66; Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2003) 301:704-10). Accordingly, in certain aspects, POSH may associate with dynamin through its interaction with HIP55. HIP55 has also been shown to be important for receptor mediated endocytosis of the transferrin receptor (Biochem Biophys Res Commun (2003) 301:704-10).

The term HIP55 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring HIP55 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring HIP55 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 390-394, 377-385). The term specifically includes human HIP55 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with CENTB1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and CENTB1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with CENTB1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. CENTB1 is synonymous with ACAP1. ACAP1 is an ARF GTPase activating protein (ARF GAP). ACAP1 can function as a GAP for ARF1 and ARF6 (J Biol Chem (2002) 277:7962-9).

The term CENTB1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring CENTB1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring CENTB1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 231-232, 37-47). The term specifically includes human CENTB1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with EIF3S3. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and EIF3S3. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with EIF3S3. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. EIF3S3 is elevated in certain hepatocellular carcinomas and in prostate cancer (Hepatology (2003) 38:1242-9; Am J Pathol (2001) 159:2081-84). It has also been demonstrated that EIF3S3 is often amplified and overexpressed in breast cancer (Genes Chromosomes Cancer. (2000) 28:203-210).

The term EIF3S3 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring EIF3S3 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring EIF3S3 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 238, 55-57). The term specifically includes human EIF3S3 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with SRA1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and SRA1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with SRA1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. SRA1 is a transcriptional coactivator, steroid receptor RNA activator 1. SRA is selective for steroid hormone receptors and mediates transactivation via their amino-terminal activation function (Cell (1999) 97:17-27). The term SRA1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring SRA1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring SRA1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 291-294, 175-182). The term specifically includes human SRA1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

The application additionally relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with WASF1. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and WASF1. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with WASF1. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. WASF1 is a member of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family of proteins. WASF-1 has been shown to regulate cortical actin filament reorganization in response to extracellular stimuli. WASF1 is synonymous with WAVE1 and is an actin regulatory protein. It has been shown that Ras and the adaptor protein Nck activate actin nucleation through WAVE1 (Nature (2002) 418:790-3).

The term WASF1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring WASF1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring WASF1 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 389, 375-376). The term specifically includes human WASF1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

The application additionally relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with SPG20. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and SPG20. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with SPG20. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. SPG20 is synonymous with spartin, and mutation in the gene has been implicated in Troyer syndrome, an autosomal recessive complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia. Comparative sequence analysis has shown that spartin shares similarity with molecules involved in endosomal trafficking (Nat Genet (2002) 31:347-8).

The term SPG20 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring SPG20 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring SPG20 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 386-388, 367-374). The term specifically includes human SPG20 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in the FIG. 36.

In further embodiments, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with HLA-A. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and HLA-A. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with HLA-A. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. In additional aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with HLA-B. Accordingly, the application provides complexes comprising POSH and HLA-B. In one aspect, the application relates to the discovery that POSH binds directly with HLA-B. This interaction was identified by Applicants in a yeast 2-hybrid assay. HLA-A and HLA-B are MHC class I molecules. HLA-A and HLA-B molecules are downregulated in the progression of AIDS, and this downregulation is associated with the activity of HIV-1 Nef.

The term HLA-A is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring HLA-A homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring HLA-A (e.g., SEQ DI NOs: 253, 87-88). The term specifically includes human HLA-A nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

The term HLA-B is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring HLA-B homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring HLA-B (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 254, 89). The term specifically includes human HLA-B nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain aspects, the application relates to the discovery that a POSH polypeptide interacts with a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2). An exemplary E2 may include, but are not limited to, UBC5a, UBC5c, UBC6, and UBC13. UBC13 is often found in a heterodimer complex with a Ub conjugating enzymer variant (UEV) protein, such as, for example, UEV1a. (See Hofmann and Pickart, Noncanonical MMS2-Encoded Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme Functions in Assembly of Novel Ubiquitin Chains for DNA Repair; Cell 96: 645-653 (1999), McKenna et al., 2002, Energetics and Specificity of Interactions within Ub-Uev-Ubc13 Human Ubiquitin Conjugating Complexs, Biochemistry. Vol. 42. pp. 7922-7930, and Ulrich, 2003, Proteiin-Protein Interactions within an E2-RING Finger Complex, The Jurnal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 278. No 9. pp. 7051-7058). UVE proteins share significant sequence and structural similarities with E2s, yet lack the requisite active site cystine of the classical E2 protein family.

Generally, UBC5 conjugates ubiquitin to Lysine 48 in a target protein, a signal that marks the protein for degredation by the 26 S proteosome. In constrast, UBC13/UEV1a conjugates ubiquitin to Lysine 63 residue in a target protein, which is not a degradation signal. Instead, ubiquitin conjugated at Lysine 63 has been implicated in diverse biological processes, including, for example, DNA damage repair, endocytosis, ribosome biogenesis, mitochondrial inheritance, and NFκB signaling (See Ulrich, 2003). The UBC13/UEV1a has been shown to work with two other RING-ubiquitin ligases, TRAF6 and RAD5. (See Ulrich, 2003). TRAF6-UBC13-UEV1a complex ubiquitinates TRAF6 (self-ubiquitination), thus enabling it to activate a kinase cascade.

Without being bound to theory, it appears that UBC5a, UBC5c and UBC6 may work with POSH in one pathway, while UBC13/UEV1a work with POSH in another distinct pathway. This is supported by the fact that UBC5/6 marks POSH for degradation by conjugating ubiquitin at Lysine 48, whereas UBC13/UEV1a marks POSH for purposes other than degradation by conjugating ubiquitin at Lysine 63. This theory is further supported by the fact that UBC5a, UBC5c and UBC6 share high sequence similarities.

Accordingly, in certain aspects, the present application relates to an isolated, purified or recombinant complex comprising a POSH polypeptide and a UBC13. In certain aspects, the present application relates to an isolated, purified or recombinant complex comprising: a polypeptide comprising a domain that is at least 90% identical to a POSH RING domain, and a POSH-AP comprising an E2. An exemplary POSH associated protein E2 include, for example, is UBC13. UBC13 may be in a heterodimer complex with a Ub conjugating enzymer variant (UEV) protein, such as, for example, UEV1a.

The term “UBC13” and is used herein to refer to full-length UBC13, any splice variants thereof, various naturally occurring UBC13 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring UBC13 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 313, 208-210). The term specifically includes UBC13 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the interaction between an ARF5 polypeptide and a POSH polypeptide. ARF5 is a member of the ARF gene family. The ARF proteins stimulate the in vitro ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of cholera toxin. ARF proteins play a role in vesicular trafficking in vivo. ARFs are members of the Ras GTPase superfamily. ARFs activate specific PLDs. Mammalian ARFs are divided into three classes based on size, amino acid sequence, gene structure, and phylogenetic analysis. ARF1 is in class I, and ARF5 is in class II.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the interaction between an ARF1 polypeptide and a POSH polypeptide. ARF1 is a small G protein involved in vesicular trafficking. The assembly/disassembly cycle of the coat protein I (COPI) on Golgi membranes is coupled to the GTP/GDP cycle of ARF1 (Nature (2003) 426:563-6). ARF1 has been implicated in mitotic Golgi disassembly, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis (Proc Natl Acad Sci (2003) 100:13314-9). ARF1 has been shown to bind to the 5-HT2A receptor, a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) (Mol Pharmacol (2003) 64:1239-50).

The term ARF-1 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring ARF-1 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring ARF-1 (e.g. SEQ ID NOs: 223, 325-339). The term specifically includes human ARF-1 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

The term ARF-5 is used herein to refer to various naturally occurring ARF-5 homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring ARF-5 (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 224, 340-344). The term specifically includes human ARF-5 nucleic acid and amino acid sequences and the sequences presented in FIG. 36.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the inhibition of viral maturation by modulation of an activity associated with a dynamin II polypeptide. Dynamin II is a large GTP-binding protein that is involved in endocytosis and in vesicle formation at the trans-Golgi network. Dynamin II contains a pleckstrin homology domain (PHD) and a proline-rich domain (PRD). Dynamin II plays an important role in vesicle formation at the plasma membrane, trans-Golgi network, and various other intracellular organelles. Accordingly, disrupting the activity of a dynamin II polypeptide or the interaction between a POSH polypeptide and a dynamin II polypeptide (e.g., by reducing POSH protein levels or alternatively, reducing dynamin II protein levels, through RNAi) may disrupt the activity of dynamin II in the secretory pathway and prevent the secretion of viral proteins, such as, for example, HBV proteins. Dynamin II participates in the transport and secretion of HBV proteins (Abdulkarim, A S et al (2003) J. Hepat. 38:76-83). Accordingly, in certain embodiments, inhibition of POSH adversely effects the transport and release of HBV proteins.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the inhibition of dynamin activity, in particular the inhibition of the activity of dynamin II, a member of the dynamin family of proteins. In certain embodiments, the application relates to inhibition of dynamin II activity, which inhibition disrupts the transport and secretion of HBV proteins. The term dynamin II is used herein to refer to full-length, human dynamin II as well as various naturally occurring dynamin II homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring dynamin II (e.g., public gi number: 1196422, public gi number: 1706539, public gi number: 1196423, and public gi number: 1363934).

In certain embodiments, the application relates to the inhibition of viral maturation by modulation of an activity associated with a Vpu polypeptide. Vpu is an HIV-1 encoded ion channel, which, among other tasks in the HIV-1 life cycle, is necessary for efficient virus budding (Schubert, U e t a 1 (1995) J. Virol. 69:7699-7711). Vpu may function at the trans Golgi network (TGN). Vpu expresses an acidic amino acid sorting motif that is required for TGN localization through a retroviral process mediated by the POSH-AP, PACS-1 (Wan, L et al (1998) Cell 94:205-216). Moreover, the phenotype conferred by human POSH knockdown is similar to that observed in cells expressing HIV-1 lacking Vpu where viruses also accumulate in intracellular membranes (Klimkait, T et al (1990) J. Virol. 64:621-629).

Vpu regulates virus release from a post-endoplasmic reticulum compartment, such as possibly the TGN, by an ion channel activity mediated by its transmembrane anchor. Vpu also induces the selective down regulation of host cell receptor proteins such as CD4 and major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, in a process involving its cytoplasmic tail. Furthermore, Vpu-mediated degradation of CD4 is dependent on an intact ubiquitin-conjugating system. (See Schubert, U et al (1998) J. Virol. 72:2280-8). In certain embodiments of the present invention, Vpu-mediated degradation of a protein such as CD4 may involve a ubiquitin-conjugating system that includes a POSH polypeptide or a POSH-AP, such as, for example, Cbl-b.

Vpu nucleic acid and the corresponding amino acid sequence encoded thereby are exemplified by the Vpu discussed in Strebel, K et al (1988) 241:1221-1223. The term Vpu is used herein to refer as well to Vpu of other HIV-1 isolates, such as the Vpu disclosed in GenBank, accession number U51190, and the Vpu disclosed in GenBank, accession number U52953. The term Vpu is used herein to refer as well to various naturally occurring Vpu homologs, as well as functionally similar variants and fragments that retain at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% sequence identity to a naturally occurring Vpu.

thods and Compositions for Treating POSH-associated Diseases

In certain aspects, the application provides methods and compositions for treatment of POSH-associated diseases (disorders), including cancer and viral disorders, as well as disorders associated with unwanted apoptosis, including, for example a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.

In certain embodiments, the application relates to viral disorders (e.g., viral infections), and particularly disorders caused by retroid viruses, RNA viruses and/or envelope viruses. In view of the teachings herein, one of skill in the art will understand that the methods and compositions of the application are applicable to a wide range of viruses such as, for example, retroid viruses, RNA viruses, and envelope viruses. In a preferred embodiment, the present application is applicable to retroid viruses. In a more preferred embodiment, the present application is further applicable to retroviruses (retroviridae). In another more preferred embodiment, the present application is applicable to lentivirus, including primate lentivirus group. In a most preferred embodiment, the present application is applicable to Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Human Immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human T-cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV).

While not intended to be limiting, relevant retroviruses include: C-type retrovirus which causes lymphosarcoma in Northern Pike, the C-type retrovirus which infects mink, the caprine lentivirus which infects sheep, the Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV), the C-type retrovirus which infects pigs, the Avian Leukosis Sarcoma Virus (ALSV), the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), the Feline Aids Virus, the Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV), Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (MMuLV), the Simian Leukemia Virus (SLV), the Simian Immuno-deficiency Virus (SIV), the Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type-I (HTLV-I), the Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type-II (HTLV-II), Human Immunodeficiency virus type-2 (HIV-2) and Human Immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1).

The method and compositions of the present application are further applicable to RNA viruses, including ssRNA negative-strand viruses and ssRNA positive-strand viruses. The ssRNA positive-strand viruses include Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). In a preferred embodiment, the present application is applicable to mononegavirales, including filoviruses. Filoviruses further include Ebola viruses and Marburg viruses. In another preferred embodiment, the present invention is applicable to flaviviruses, including West Nile Virus (WNV).

Other RNA viruses include picornaviruses such as enterovinis, poliovirus, coxsackievirus and hepatitis A virus, the caliciviruses, including Norwalk-like viruses, the rhabdoviruses, including rabies virus, the togaviruses including alphaviruses, Semliki Forest virus, denguevirus, yellow fever virus and rubella virus, the orthomyxoviruses, including Type A, B, and C influenza viruses, the bunyaviruses, including the Rift Valley fever virus and the hantavirus, the filoviruses such as Ebola virus and Marburg virus, and the paramyxoviruses, including mumps virus and measles virus. Additional viruses that may be treated include herpes viruses.

The methods and compositions of the present application are further applicable to hepatotrophic viruses, including HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, and HEV. In certain aspects, the application relates to a method of inhibiting a hepatotrophic virus, comprising administering a POSH inhibitor to a subject in need thereof. In further aspects, the application relates to a method of treating a viral hepatitis infection, comprising administering a POSH inhibitor to a subject in need thereof. A viral hepatitis infection may be caused by a hepatotrophic virus, such as HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, or HEV. In certain embodiments, the application relates to a method of treating an HBV infection by administering a POSH inhibitor to a subject in need thereof.

In other embodiments, the application relates to methods of treating or preventing cancer diseases. The terms “cancer,” “tumor,” and “neoplasia” are used interchangeably herein. As used herein, a cancer (tumor or neoplasia) is characterized by one or more of the following properties: cell growth is not regulated by the normal biochemical and physical influences in the environment; anaplasia (e.g., lack of normal coordinated cell differentiation); and in some instances, metastasis. Cancer diseases include, for example, anal carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, breast carcinoma, cervix carcinoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, endometrial carcinoma, hairy cell leukemia, head and neck carcinoma, lung (small cell) carcinoma, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, ovarian carcinoma, brain tumors, colorectal carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, lung (non-small cell carcinoma), melanoma, pancreatic carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Additional cancer disorders can be found in, for example, Isselbacher et al. (1994) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 114-1877, herein incorporated by reference.

In a specific embodiment, anticancer therapeutics of the application are used in treating a POSH-associated cancer. As described herein, POSH-associated cancers include, but are not limited to, the thyroid carcinoma, liver cancer (hepatocellular cancer), lung cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, renal cell carcinoma, lymphoma, osteosacoma, liposarcoma, leukemia, breast carcinoma, and breast adeno-carcinoma.

Preferred antiviral and anticancer therapeutics of the application can function by disrupting the biological activity of a POSH polypeptide or POSH complex in viral maturation. Certain therapeutics of the application function by disrupting the activity of a POSH-AP (e.g., HERPUD1) in viral maturation. Certain therapeutics of the application function by disrupting the activity of POSH by inhibiting the ubiquitin ligase activity of a POSH polypeptide. In certain embodiments of the application, a therapeutic of the application inhibits the ubiquitination of a POSH-AP, such as for example the ubiquitination of HERPUD1.

In other embodiments, the application relates to methods of treating or preventing neurological disorders. In one aspect, the invention provides methods and compositions for the identification of compositions that interfere with the function of a POSH or a POSH-AP, which function may relate to aberrant protein processing associated with a neurodegenerative disorder, such as for example, the processing of amyloid beta precursor protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. Neurological disorders include disorders associated with increased levels of amyloid β production, such as for example, Alzheimer's disease. Neurological disorders also include Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, schizophrenia, Niemaim-Pick's disease, and prion-associated diseases

Exemplary therapeutics of the application include nucleic acid therapies such as, for example, RNAi constructs (small inhibitory RNAs), antisense oligonucleotides, ribozyme, and DNA enzymes. Other therapeutics include polypeptides, peptidomimetics, antibodies and small molecules.

Antisense therapies of the application include methods of introducing antisense nucleic acids to disrupt the expression of POSH polypeptides or proteins that are necessary for POSH function.

RNAi therapies include methods of introducing RNAi constructs to downregulate the expression of POSH polypeptides or POSH-APs (e.g., HERPUD1). In certain embodiments, RNAi therapeutics are delivered to the liver (e.g., to hepatocytes). Exemplary RNAi therapeutics include any one of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25.

Therapeutic polypeptides may be generated by designing polypeptides to mimic certain protein domains important in the formation of POSH: POSH-AP complexes, such as, for example, SH3 or RING domains. For example, a polypeptide comprising a POSH SH3 domain such as, for example, the SH3 domain as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 30 will compete for binding to a POSH SH3 domain and will therefore act to disrupt binding of a partner protein. In one embodiment, a binding partner may be a Gag polypeptide. In another embodiment, a binding partner may be Rac. In a further embodiment, a polypeptide that resembles an L domain may disrupt recruitment of Gag to the POSH complex.

In view of the specification, methods for generating antibodies directed to epitopes of POSH and POSH-APs are known in the art. Antibodies may be introduced into cells by a variety of methods. One exemplary method comprises generating a nucleic acid encoding a single chain antibody that is capable of disrupting a POSH:POSH-AP complex. Such a nucleic acid may be conjugated to antibody that binds to receptors on the surface of target cells. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments, the antibody may target viral proteins that are present on the surface of infected cells, and in this way deliver the nucleic acid only to infected cells. Once bound to the target cell surface, the antibody is taken up by endocytosis, and the conjugated nucleic acid is transcribed and translated to produce a single chain antibody that interacts with and disrupts the targeted POSH:POSH-AP complex. Nucleic acids expressing the desired single chain antibody may also be introduced into cells using a variety of more conventional techniques, such as viral transfection (e.g., using an adenoviral system) or liposome-mediated transfection.

Small molecules of the application may be identified for their ability to modulate the formation of POSH:POSH-AP complexes.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to use of a small molecule as an inhibitor of POSH. Examples of such small molecules include the following compounds:

In certain embodiments, compounds useful in the instant compositions and methods include heteroarylmethylene-dihydro-2,4,6-pyrimidinetriones and their thione analogs. Preferred heteroaryl moieties include 5-membered rings such as thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, and imidazolyl moieties.

In certain embodiments, compounds useful in the instant compositions and methods include N-arylmaleimides, especially N-phenylmaleimides, in which the phenyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted.

In certain embodiments, compounds useful in the instant compositions and methods include arylallylidene-2,4-imidazolidinediones and their thione analogs. Preferred aryl groups are phenyl groups, and both the aryl and allylidene portions of the molecule may be substituted or unsubstituted.

In certain embodiments, compounds useful in the instant compositions and methods include substituted distyryl compounds and aza analogs thereof such as substituted 1,4-diphenylazabutadiene compounds.

In certain other embodiments, compounds useful in the instant compositions and methods include substituted styrenes and aza analogs thereof, such as 1,2-diphenylazaethylenes and 1-phenyl-2-pyridyl-azaethelenes.

In yet other embodiments, compounds useful in the instant compositions and methods include N-aryl-N′-acylpiperazines. In such compounds, the aryl ring, the acyl substituent, and/or the piperazine ring may be substituted or unsubstituted.

In additional embodiments, compounds useful in the instant compositions and methods include aryl esters of (2-oxo-benzooxazol-3-yl)-acetic acid, and analogs thereof in which one or more oxygen atoms are replaced by sulfur atoms.

In certain embodiments, the present application contemplates use of known PKA modulators (e.g., inhibitors or activators) in the methods of ihibiting viral infection and in the methods of treating or preventing cancer. Such PKA modulators include any compound, peptide, nucleotide derivative, nucleoside derivative, polysaccharide, sugar or other substance that can inhibit the activity of protein kinase A. Many PKA inhibitors are available and may be used. For example, many examples of PKA inhibitors including chemical structures, methods for administration and pharmacological effects are listed at the Calbiochem website at calbiochem.com. In general, inhibitors that also significantly inhibit protein kinase C activity are avoided.

In some embodiments, the PKA inhibitor is a nucleotide or nucleoside derivative. Specific examples of nucleoside or nucleotide derivatives that act as PKA inhibitors and that can be utilized in the disclosure include adenosine 3′,5′ cyclic monophosphorothioate. The H-89 inhibitor is a potent PKA inhibitor that can be used in the disclosure. The chemical name for the H-89 inhibitor is N-[2-((Pbromocinnamyl)amino)ethyl]isoquinolinesulfonamide. The KT5720 inhibitor from Calbiochem can also be used in the disclosure. Other PKA inhibitors which are available at from Calbiochem and can be used in the disclosure include ellagic acid (also named 4,4′,5,5′,6,6′-hexahydroxydiphenic acid 2,6,2′,6′-ditactone), piceatannol, 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)methylpiperazine (H-7), N-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-8), N-(2-aminoethyl)isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-9), and (5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)piperazine, 2HCI (H-100).

The PKA inhibitor can also be a peptide inhibitor (PKI). Such a peptide inhibitor can be any peptide that is recognized and bound by PKA but that PKA cannot phosphorylate. An example of a peptide inhibitor is a peptide with a “consensus sequence” for PKA recognition but with alanine in place of serine, for example, a peptide with the following sequence: Xaa-Arg-Arg-Xaa-Ala-Xaa, wherein Xaa is any amino acid, which specifically binds to the pseudoregion of the regulatory domain of PKA. Myristoylated PKA inhibitor amide (14-22, Cell-Permeable) having the sequence Myr-N-Gly-Arg-Thr-Gly-Arg-Arg-Asn-Ala-Ile-NH₂ is another example of a peptide inhibitor that can be utilized in the disclosure. A variety of other PKI peptides can be used as an inhibitor of protein kinase A in the practice of the disclosure. For example, several PKI peptides can be found in the NCBI protein database. See website at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/GenbankOverview. One example of a human PKI peptide can be found at Genbank Accession No. P04541 (gi: 417194). Another example of a human PKI peptide is at Genbank Accession No. NP 008997 (gi: 5902020). Another PKI that can be used as an inhibitor has the following sequence: Ile-Ala-Ser-Gly-Arg-Thr-Gly-Arg-Arg-Asn-Ala-Ile-His-Asp-Ile-Leu-Val-SerSer-Ala. See published PCT application WO 03/080649.

Further examples of protein kinase A inhibitors are provided in the following references: Muniz et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 1997 Dec. 23; 94(26) 14461-66; Baude et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol. 269 issue 27 18128-18133 (July 1994); Scott et al.

Applicants found that POSH is phosphorylated by PKA and phosphorylation of POSH by PKA can inhibit POSH function, for example dissociating POSH from POSH interacting proteins (e.g, Rac). Therefore, in certain embodiments, the present disclosure also cotemplates use of PKA activators in treating or preventing a POSH-associated disease (e.g., viral infection or cancer). Exemplary PKA activators include, but are not limited to, forskolin, 8-Br-cAMP, and rolipram.

In additional embodiments of the application, compounds useful in the present application include phosphatase inhibitors. Phosphatase inhibitors useful in the subject application include sodium phosphate, sodium vanadate, and okadaic acid. In certain embodiments, the present application contemplates use of known phosphatase inhibitors in the methods of inhibiting viral infection, in the methods of treating or preventing cancer, and in the methods of inhibiting the progression of a neurodenerative disorder. Phosphatase inhibitors may be useful in inhibiting the activity of a POSH-AP, such as for example, PTPN12.

For POSH-APs that are GTPases, inhibitors such as GTPgamma35S would be effective at inhibiting the GTPase activity of the POSH-AP. For example, inhibition of ARF1 or ARF5 could be accomplished with the use of a GTPase inhibitor such as GTPgamma35S, a non-hydrolyzable form of GTP.

The generation of nucleic acid based therapeutic agents directed to POSH and POSH-APs is described below.

Methods for identifying and evaluating further modulators of POSH and POSH-APs are also provided below.

5. RNA Interference, Ribozymes, Antisense and Related Constructs

In certain aspects, the application relates to RNAi, ribozyme, antisense and other nucleic acid-related methods and compositions for manipulating (typically decreasing) a POSH activity. Exemplary RNAi and ribozyme molecules may comprise a sequence as shown in any of SEQ ID Nos: 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25.

In certain aspects, the application relates to RNAi, ribozyme, antisense and other nucleic acid-related methods and compositions for manipulating (typically decreasing) a POSH-AP activity. Specific instances of nucleic acids that may be used to design nucleic acids for RNAi, ribozyme, antisense are provided in FIG. 36. Additionally, nucleic acids of POSH-APs listed in Table 8 may be used to design nucleic acids for RNAi, ribozyme, antisense.

Certain embodiments of the application make use of materials and methods for effecting knockdown of one or more POSH or POSH-AP genes by means of RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is a process of sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene repression which can occur in eukaryotic cells. In general, this process involves degradation of an mRNA of a particular sequence induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is homologous to that sequence. For example, the expression of a long dsRNA corresponding to the sequence of a particular single-stranded mRNA (ss mRNA) will labilize that message, thereby “interfering” with expression of the corresponding gene. Accordingly, any selected gene may be repressed by introducing a dsRNA which corresponds to all or a substantial part of the mRNA for that gene. It appears that when a long dsRNA is expressed, it is initially processed by a ribonuclease III into shorter dsRNA oligonucleotides of as few as 21 to 22 base pairs in length. Furthermore, Accordingly, RNAi may be effected by introduction or expression of relatively short homologous dsRNAs. Indeed the use of relatively short homologous dsRNAs may have certain advantages as discussed below.

Mammalian cells have at least two pathways that are affected by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In the RNAi (sequence-specific) pathway, the initiating dsRNA is first broken into short interfering (si) RNAs, as described above. The siRNAs have sense and antisense strands of about 21 nucleotides that form approximately 19 nucleotide si RNAs with overhangs of two nucleotides at each 3′ end. Short interfering RNAs are thought to provide the sequence information that allows a specific messenger RNA to be targeted for degradation. In contrast, the nonspecific pathway is triggered by dsRNA of any sequence, as long as it is at least about 30 base pairs in length. The nonspecific effects occur because dsRNA activates two enzymes: PKR, which in its active form phosphorylates the translation initiation factor eIF2 to shut down all protein synthesis, and 2′,5′ oligoadenylate synthetase (2′, 5′-AS), which synthesizes a molecule that activates Rnase L, a nonspecific enzyme that targets all mRNAs. The nonspecific pathway may represent a host response to stress or viral infection, and, in general, the effects of the nonspecific pathway are preferably minimized under preferred methods of the present application. Significantly, longer dsRNAs appear to be required to induce the nonspecific pathway and, accordingly, dsRNAs shorter than about 30 bases pairs are preferred to effect gene repression by RNAi (see Hunter et al. (1975) J Biol Chem 250: 409-17; Manche et al. (1992) Mol Cell Biol 12: 5239-48; Minks et al. (1979) J Biol Chem 254: 10180-3; and Elbashir et al. (2001) Nature 411: 494-8).

RNAi has been shown to be effective in reducing or eliminating the expression of genes in a number of different organisms including Caenorhabditiis elegans (see e.g., Fire et al. (1998) Nature 391: 806-11), mouse eggs and embryos (Wianny et al. (2000) Nature Cell Biol 2: 70-5; Svoboda et al. (2000) Development 127: 4147-56), and cultured RAT-1 fibroblasts (Bahramina et al. (1999) Mol Cell Biol 19: 274-83), and appears to be an anciently evolved pathway available in eukaryotic plants and animals (Sharp (2001) Genes Dev. 15: 485-90). RNAi has proven to be an effective means of decreasing gene expression in a variety of cell types including HeLa cells, NIH/3T3 cells, COS cells, 293 cells and BHK-21 cells, and typically decreases expression of a gene to lower levels than that achieved using antisense techniques and, indeed, frequently eliminates expression entirely (see Bass (2001) Nature 411: 428-9). In mammalian cells, siRNAs are effective at concentrations that are several orders of magnitude below the concentrations typically used in antisense experiments (Elbashir et al. (2001) Nature 411: 494-8).

The double stranded oligonucleotides used to effect RNAi are preferably less than 30 base pairs in length and, more preferably, comprise about 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18 or 17 base pairs of ribonucleic acid. Optionally the dsRNA oligonucleotides of the application may include 3′ overhang ends. Exemplary 2-nucleotide 3′ overhangs may be composed of ribonucleotide residues of any type and may even be composed of 2′-deoxythymidine resides, which lowers the cost of RNA synthesis and may enhance nuclease resistance of siRNAs in the cell culture medium and within transfected cells (see Elbashir et al. (2001) Nature 411: 494-8). Longer dsRNAs of 50, 75, 100 or even 500 base pairs or more may also be utilized in certain embodiments of the application. Exemplary concentrations of dsRNAs for effecting RNAi are about 0.05 nM, 0.1 nM, 0.5 nM, 1.0 nM, 1.5 nM, 25 nM or 100 nM, although other concentrations may be utilized depending upon the nature of the cells treated, the gene target and other factors readily discernable the skilled artisan. Exemplary dsRNAs may be synthesized chemically or produced in vitro or in vivo using appropriate expression vectors. Exemplary synthetic RNAs include 21 nucleotide RNAs chemically synthesized using methods known in the art (e.g., Expedite RNA phophoramidites and thymidine phosphoramidite (Proligo, Germany). Synthetic oligonucleotides are preferably deprotected and gel-purified using methods known in the art (see e.g., Elbashir et al. (2001) Genes Dev. 15: 188-200). Longer RNAs may be transcribed from promoters, such as T7 RNA polymerase promoters, known in the art. A single RNA target, placed in both possible orientations downstream of an in vitro promoter, will transcribe both strands of the target to create a dsRNA oligonucleotide of the desired target sequence. Any of the above RNA species will be designed to include a portion of nucleic acid sequence represented in a POSH or POSH-AP nucleic acid, such as, for example, a nucleic acid that hybridizes, under stringent and/or physiological conditions, to any of SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 and complements thereof or any of the POSH-AP sequences presented in FIG. 36.

The specific sequence utilized in design of the oligonucleotides may be any contiguous sequence of nucleotides contained within the expressed gene message of the target. Programs and algorithms, known in the art, may be used to select appropriate target sequences. In addition, optimal sequences may be selected utilizing programs designed to predict the secondary structure of a specified single stranded nucleic acid sequence and allowing selection of those sequences likely to occur in exposed single stranded regions of a folded mRNA. Methods and compositions for designing appropriate oligonucleotides may be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,588, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is generally thought of as a linear molecule which contains the information for directing protein synthesis within the sequence of ribonucleotides, however studies have revealed a number of secondary and tertiary structures that exist in most mRNAs. Secondary structure elements in RNA are formed largely by Watson-Crick type interactions between different regions of the same RNA molecule. Important secondary structural elements include intramolecular double stranded regions, hairpin loops, bulges in duplex RNA and internal loops. Tertiary structural elements are formed when secondary structural elements come in contact with each other or with single stranded regions to produce a more complex three dimensional structure. A number of researchers have measured the binding energies of a large number of RNA duplex structures and have derived a set of rules which can be used to predict the secondary structure of RNA (see e.g., Jaeger et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:7706 (1989); and Turner et al. (1988) Annu. Rev. Biophys. Biophys. Chem. 17:167). The rules are useful in identification of RNA structural elements and, in particular, for identifying single stranded RNA regions which may represent preferred segments of the mRNA to target for silencing RNAi, ribozyme or antisense technologies. Accordingly, preferred segments of the mRNA target can be identified for design of the RNAi mediating dsRNA oligonucleotides as well as for design of appropriate ribozyme and hammerheadribozyme compositions of the application.

The dsRNA oligonucleotides may be introduced into the cell by transfection with an heterologous target gene using carrier compositions such as liposomes, which are known in the art—e.g., Lipofectamine 2000 (Life Technologies) as described by the manufacturer for adherent cell lines. Transfection of dsRNA oligonucleotides for targeting endogenous genes may be carried out using Oligofectamine (Life Technologies). Transfection efficiency may be checked using fluorescence microscopy for mammalian cell lines after co-transfection of hGFP-encoding pAD3 (Kehlenback et al. (1998) J Cell Biol 141: 863-74). The effectiveness of the RNAi may be assessed by any of a number of assays following introduction of the dsRNAs. These include Western blot analysis using antibodies which recognize the POSH or POSH-AP gene product following sufficient time for turnover of the endogenous pool after new protein synthesis is repressed, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis to determine the level of existing POSH or POSH-AP target mRNA.

Further compositions, methods and applications of RNAi technology are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,278,039, 5,723,750 and 5,244,805, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Ribozyme molecules designed to catalytically cleave POSH or POSH-AP mRNA transcripts can also be used to prevent translation of suject POSH or POSH-AP mRNAs and/or expression of POSH or POSH-APs (see, e.g., PCT International Publication WO90/11364, published Oct. 4, 1990; Sarver et al. (1990) Science 247:1222-1225 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,246). Ribozymes are enzymatic RNA molecules capable of catalyzing the specific cleavage of RNA. (For a review, see Rossi (1994) Current Biology 4: 469-471). The mechanism of ribozyme action involves sequence specific hybridization of the ribozyme molecule to complementary target RNA, followed by an endonucleolytic cleavage event. The composition of ribozyme molecules preferably includes one or more sequences complementary to a POSH or POSH-AP mRNA, and the well known catalytic sequence responsible for mRNA cleavage or a functionally equivalent sequence (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,246, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

While ribozymes that cleave mRNA at site specific recognition sequences can be used to destroy target mRNAs, the use of hammerhead ribozymes is preferred. Hammerhead ribozymes cleave mRNAs at locations dictated by flanking regions that form complementary base pairs with the target mRNA. Preferably, the target mRNA has the following sequence of two bases: 5′-UG-3′. The construction and production of hammerhead ribozymes is well known in the art and is described more fully in Haseloff and Gerlach ((1988) Nature 334:585-591; and see PCT Appln. No. WO89/05852, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference). Hammerhead ribozyme sequences can be embedded in a stable RNA such as a transfer RNA (tRNA) to increase cleavage efficiency in vivo (Perriman et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92: 6175-79; de Feyter, and Gaudron, Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 74, Chapter 43, “Expressing Ribozymes in Plants”, Edited by Turner, P. C, Humana Press Inc., Totowa, N.J.). In p articular, RNA polymerase III-mediated expression of tRNA fusion ribozymes are well known in the art (see Kawasaki et al. (1998) Nature 393: 2849; Kuwabara et al. (1998) Nature Biotechnol. 16: 961-5; and Kuwabara et al. (1998) Mol. Cell 2: 617-27; Koseki et al. (1999) J Virol 73: 1868-77; Kuwabara et al. (1999) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96: 1886-91; Tanabe et al. (2000) Nature 406: 473-4). There are typically a number of potential hammerhead ribozyme cleavage sites within a given target cDNA sequence. Preferably the ribozyme is engineered so that the cleavage recognition site is located near the 5′ end of the target mRNA—to increase efficiency and minimize the intracellular accumulation of non-functional mRNA transcripts. Furthermore, the use of any cleavage recognition site located in the target sequence encoding different portions of the C-terminal amino acid domains of, for example, long and short forms of target would allow the selective targeting of one or the other form of the target, and thus, have a selective effect on one form of the target gene product.

Gene targeting ribozymes necessarily contain a hybridizing region complementary to two regions, each of at least 5 and preferably each 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 contiguous nucleotides in length of a POSH or POSH-AP mRNA, such as an mRNA of a sequence represented in any of SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 or 10 or a POSH-AP presented in FIG. 36. In addition, ribozymes possess highly specific endoribonuclease activity, which autocatalytically cleaves the target sense mRNA. The present application extends to ribozymes which hybridize to a sense mRNA encoding a POSH gene such as a therapeutic drug target candidate gene, thereby hybridising to the sense mRNA and cleaving it, such that it is no longer capable of being translated to synthesize a functional polypeptide product.

The ribozymes of the present application also include RNA endoribonucleases (hereinafter “Cech-type ribozymes”) such as the one which occurs naturally in Tetrahymena thermophila (known as the IVS, or L-19 IVS RNA) and which has been extensively described by Thomas Cech and collaborators (Zaug, et al. (1984) Science 224:574-578; Zaug, et al. (1986) Science 231:470-475; Zaug, et al. (1986) Nature 324:429-433; published International patent application No. WO88/04300 by University Patents Inc.; Been, et al. (1986) Cell 47:207-216). The Cech-type ribozymes have an eight base pair active site which hybridizes to a target RNA sequence whereafter cleavage of the target RNA takes place. The application encompasses those Cech-type ribozymes which target eight base-pair active site sequences that are present in a target gene or nucleic acid sequence.

Ribozymes can be composed of modified oligonucleotides (e.g., for improved stability, targeting, etc.) and should be delivered to cells which express the target gene in vivo. A preferred method of delivery involves using a DNA construct “encoding” the ribozyme under the control of a strong constitutive pol III or pol II promoter, so that transfected cells will produce sufficient quantities of the ribozyme to destroy endogenous target messages and inhibit translation. Because ribozymes, unlike antisense molecules, are catalytic, a lower intracellular concentration is required for efficiency.

In certain embodiments, a ribozyme may be designed by first identifying a sequence portion sufficient to cause effective knockdown by RNAi. The same sequence portion may then be incorporated into a ribozyme. In this aspect of the application, the gene-targeting portions of the ribozyme or RNAi are substantially the same sequence of at least 5 and preferably 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 or more contiguous nucleotides of a POSH nucleic acid, such as a nucleic acid of any of SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 10 or POSH-AP nucleic acid, as presented in FIG. 36. In a long target RNA chain, significant numbers of target sites are not accessible to the ribozyme because they are hidden within secondary or tertiary structures (Birikh et al. (1997) Eur J Biochem 245: 1-16). To overcome the problem of target RNA accessibility, computer generated predictions of secondary structure are typically used to identify targets that are most likely to be single-stranded or have an “open” configuration (see Jaeger et al. (1989) Methods Enzymol 183: 281-306). Other approaches utilize a systematic approach to predicting secondary structure which involves assessing a huge number of candidate hybridizing oligonucleotides molecules (see Milner et al. (1997) Nat Biotechnol 15: 537-41; and Patzel and Sczakiel (1998) Nat Biotechnol 16: 64-8). Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,588, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein, describes methods for evaluating oligonucleotide probe sequences so as to predict the potential for hybridization to a target nucleic acid sequence. The method of the application provides for the use of such methods to select preferred segments of a target mRNA sequence that are predicted to be single-stranded and, further, for the opportunistic utilization of the same or substantially identical target mRNA sequence, preferably comprising about 10-20 consecutive nucleotides of the target mRNA, in the design of both the RNAi oligonucleotides and ribozymes of the application.

A further aspect of the application relates to the use of the isolated “antisense” nucleic acids to inhibit expression, e.g., by inhibiting transcription and/or translation of a POSH or POSH-AP nucleic acid. The antisense nucleic acids may hind to the potential drug target by conventional base pair complementarity, or, for example, in the case of binding to DNA duplexes, through specific interactions in the major groove of the double helix. In general, these methods refer to the range of techniques generally employed in the art, and include any methods that rely on specific binding to oligonucleotide sequences.

An antisense construct of the present application can be delivered, for example, as an expression plasmid which, when transcribed in the cell, produces RNA which is complementary to at least a unique portion of the cellular mRNA which encodes a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. Alternatively, the antisense construct is an oligonucleotide probe, which is generated ex vivo and which, when introduced into the cell causes inhibition of expression by hybridizing with the mRNA and/or genomic sequences of a POSH or POSH-AP nucleic acid. Such oligonucleotide probes are preferably modified oligonucleotides, which are resistant to endogenous nucleases, e.g., exonucleases and/or endonucleases, and are therefore stable in vivo. Exemplary nucleic acid molecules for use as antisense oligonucleotides are phosphoramidate, phosphothioate and methylphosphonate analogs of DNA (see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,176,996; 5,264,564; and 5,256,775). Additionally, general approaches to constructing oligomers useful in antisense therapy have been reviewed, for example, by Van der Krol et al. (1988) BioTechniques 6:958-976; and Stein et al. (1988) Cancer Res 48:2659-2668.

With respect to antisense DNA, oligodeoxyribonucleotides derived from the translation initiation site, e.g., between the −10 and +10 regions of the target gene, are preferred. Antisense approaches involve the design of oligonucleotides (either DNA or RNA) that are complementary to mRNA encoding a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. The antisense oligonucleotides will bind to the mRNA transcripts and prevent translation. Absolute complementarity, although preferred, is not required. In the case of double-stranded antisense nucleic acids, a single strand of the duplex DNA may thus be tested, or triplex formation may be assayed. The ability to hybridize will depend on both the degree of complementarity and the length of the antisense nucleic acid. Generally, the longer the hybridizing nucleic acid, the more base mismatches with an RNA it may contain and still form a stable duplex (or triplex, as the case may be). One skilled in the art can ascertain a tolerable degree of mismatch by use of standard procedures to determine the melting point of the hybridized complex.

Oligonucleotides that are complementary to the 5′ end of the mRNA, e.g., the 5′ untranslated sequence up to and including the AUG initiation codon, should work most efficiently at inhibiting translation. However, sequences complementary to the 3′ untranslated sequences of mRNAs have recently been shown to be effective at inhibiting translation of mRNAs as well. (Wagner, R. 1994. Nature 372:333). Therefore, oligonucleotides complementary to either the 5′ or 3′ untranslated, noncoding regions of a gene could be used in an antisense approach to inhibit translation of that mRNA. Oligonucleotides complementary to the 5′ untranslated region of the mRNA should include the complement of the AUG start codon. Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to mRNA coding regions are less efficient inhibitors of translation but could also be used in accordance with the application. Whether designed to hybridize to the 5′, 3′ or coding region of mRNA, antisense nucleic acids should be at least six nucleotides in length, and are preferably less that about 100 and more preferably less than about 50, 25, 17 or 10 nucleotides in length.

It is preferred that in vitro studies are first performed to quantitate the ability of the antisense oligonucleotide to inhibit gene expression. It is preferred that these studies utilize controls that distinguish between antisense gene inhibition and nonspecific biological effects of oligonucleotides. It is also preferred that these studies compare levels of the target RNA or protein with that of an internal control RNA or protein. Results obtained using the antisense oligonucleotide may be compared with those obtained using a control oligonucleotide. It is preferred that the control oligonucleotide is of approximately the same length as the test oligonucleotide and that the nucleotide sequence of the oligonucleotide differs from the antisense sequence no more than is necessary to prevent specific hybridization to the target sequence.

The antisense oligonucleotides can be DNA or RNA or chimeric mixtures or derivatives or modified versions thereof, single-stranded or double-stranded. The oligonucleotide can be modified at the base moiety, sugar moiety, or phosphate backbone, for example, to improve stability of the molecule, hybridization, etc. The oligonucleotide may include other appended groups such as peptides (e.g., for targeting host cell receptors), or agents facilitating transport across the cell membrane (see, e.g., Letsinger et al., 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86:6553-6556; Lemaitre et al., 1987, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 84:648-652; PCT Publication No. WO88/09810, published Dec. 15, 1988) or the blood-brain barrier (see, e.g., PCT Publication No. WO89/10134, published Apr. 25, 1988), hybridization-triggered cleavage agents. (See, e.g., Krol et al., 1988, BioTechniques 6:958-976) or intercalating agents. (See, e.g., Zon, 1988, Pharm. Res. 5:539-549). To this end, the oligonucleotide may be conjugated to another molecule, e.g., a peptide, hybridization triggered cross-linking agent, transport agent, hybridization-triggered cleavage agent, etc.

The antisense oligonucleotide may comprise at least one modified base moiety which is selected from the group including but not limited to 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xantine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxytiethyl)uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimetbylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyaninomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl)uracil, (acp3)w, and 2,6-diaminopurine.

The antisense oligonucleotide may also comprise at least one modified sugar moiety selected from the group including but not limited to arabinose, 2-fluoroarabinose, xylulose, and hexose.

The antisense oligonucleotide can also contain a neutral peptide-like backbone. Such molecules are termed peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-oligomers and are described, e.g., in Perry-O'Keefe et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93:14670 and in Eglom et al. (1993) Nature 365:566. One advantage of PNA oligomers is their capability to bind to complementary DNA essentially independently from the ionic strength of the medium due to the neutral backbone of the DNA. In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified phosphate backbone selected from the group consisting of a phosphorothioate, a phosphorodithioate, a phosphoramidothioate, a phosphoramidate, a phosphordiamidate, a methylphosphonate, an alkyl phosphotriester, and a formacetal or analog thereof.

In yet a further embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is an alpha-anomeric oligonucleotide. An alpha-anomeric oligonucleotide forms specific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to the usual antiparallel orientation, the strands run parallel to each other (Gautier et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Res. 15:6625-6641). The oligonucleotide is a 2′-O-methylribonucleotide (Inoue et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Res. 15:6131-6148), or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al., 1987, FEBS Lett. 215:327-330).

While antisense nucleotides complementary to the coding region of a POSH or POSH-AP mRNA sequence can be used, those complementary to the transcribed untranslated region may also be used.

In certain instances, it may be difficult to achieve intracellular concentrations of the antisense sufficient to suppress translation on endogenous mRNAs. Therefore a preferred approach utilizes a recombinant DNA construct in which the antisense oligonucleotide is placed under the control of a strong pol II or pol II promoter. The use of such a construct to transfect target cells will result in the transcription of sufficient amounts of single stranded RNAs that will form complementary base pairs with the endogenous potential drug target transcripts and thereby prevent translation. For example, a vector can be introduced such that it is taken up by a cell and directs the transcription of an antisense RNA. Such a vector can remain episomal or become chromosomally integrated, as long as it can be transcribed to produce the desired antisense RNA. Such vectors can be constructed by recombinant DNA technology methods standard in the art. Vectors can be plasmid, viral, or others known in the art, used for replication and expression in mammalian cells. Expression of the sequence encoding the antisense RNA can be by any promoter known in the art to act in mammalian, preferably human cells. Such promoters can be inducible or constitutive. Such promoters include but are not limited to: the SV40 early promoter region (Bernoist and Chambon, 1981, Nature 290:304-310), the promoter contained in the 3′ long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus (Yamamoto et al., 1980, Cell 22:787-797), the herpes thymidine kinase promoter (Wagner et al., 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78:1441-1445), the regulatory sequences of the metallothionein gene (Brinster et al, 1982, Nature 296:39-42), etc. Any type of plasmid, cosmid, YAC or viral vector can be used to prepare the recombinant DNA construct, which can be introduced directly into the tissue site.

Alternatively, POSH or POSH-AP gene expression can be reduced by targeting deoxyribonucleotide sequences complementary to the regulatory region of the gene (i.e., the promoter and/or enhancers) to form triple helical structures that prevent transcription of the gene in target cells in the body. (See generally, Helene, C. 1991, Anticancer Drug Des., 6(6):569-84; Helene, C., et al., 1992, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 660:27-36; and Maher, L. J., 1992, Bioassays 14(12):807-15).

Nucleic acid molecules to be used in triple helix formation for the inhibition of transcription are preferably single stranded and composed of deoxyribonucleotides. The base composition of these oligonucleotides should promote triple helix formation via Hoogsteen base pairing rules, which generally require sizable stretches of either purines or pyrimidines to be present on one strand of a duplex. Nucleotide sequences may be pyrimidine-based, which will result in TAT and CGC triplets across the three associated strands of the resulting triple helix. The pyrimidine-rich molecules provide base complementarity to a purine-rich region of a single strand of the duplex in a parallel orientation to that strand. In addition, nucleic acid molecules may be chosen that are purine-rich, for example, containing a stretch of G residues. These molecules will form a triple helix with a DNA duplex that is rich in GC pairs, in which the majority of the purine residues are located on a single strand of the targeted duplex, resulting in CGC triplets across the three strands in the triplex.

Alternatively, POSH or POSH-AP sequences that can be targeted for triple helix formation may be increased by creating a so called “switchback” nucleic acid molecule. Switchback molecules are synthesized in an alternating 5′-3′, 3′-5′ manner, such that they base pair with first one strand of a duplex and then the other, eliminating the necessity for a sizable stretch of either purines or pyrimidines to be present on one strand of a duplex.

A further aspect of the application relates to the use of DNA enzymes to inhibit expression of a POSH or POSH-AP gene. DNA enzymes incorporate some of the mechanistic features of both antisense and ribozyme technologies. DNA enzymes are designed so that they recognize a particular target nucleic acid sequence, much like an antisense oligonucleotide, however much like a ribozyme they are catalytic and specifically cleave the target nucleic acid.

There are currently two basic types of DNA enzymes, and both of these were identified by Santoro and Joyce (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,462). The 10-23 DNA enzyme comprises a loop structure which connect two arms. The two arms provide specificity by recognizing the particular target nucleic acid sequence while the loop structure provides catalytic function under physiological conditions.

Briefly, to design an ideal DNA enzyme that specifically recognizes and cleaves a target nucleic acid, one of skill in the art must first identify the unique target sequence. This can be done using the same approach as outlined for antisense oligonucleotides. Preferably, the unique or substantially sequence is a G/C rich of approximately 18 to 22 nucleotides. High G/C content helps insure a stronger interaction between the DNA enzyme and the target sequence.

When synthesizing the DNA enzyme, the specific antisense recognition sequence that will target the enzyme to the message is divided so that it comprises the two arms of the DNA enzyme, and the DNA enzyme loop is placed between the two specific arms.

Methods of making and administering DNA enzymes can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,462. Similarly, methods of delivery DNA ribozymes in vitro or in vivo include methods of delivery RNA ribozyme, as outlined in detail above. Additionally, one of skill in the art will recognize that, like antisense oligonucleotide, DNA enzymes can be optionally modified to improve stability and improve resistance to degradation.

Antisense RNA and DNA, ribozyme, RNAi and triple helix molecules of the application may be prepared by any method known in the art for the synthesis of DNA and RNA molecules. These include techniques for chemically synthesizing oligodeoxyribonucleotides and oligoribonucleotides well known in the art such as for example solid phase phosphoramidite chemical synthesis. Alternatively, RNA molecules may be generated by in vitro and in vivo transcription of DNA sequences encoding the antisense RNA molecule. Such DNA sequences may be incorporated into a wide variety of vectors which incorporate suitable RNA polymerase promoters such as the T7 or SP6 polymerase promoters. Alternatively, antisense cDNA constructs that synthesize antisense RNA constitutively or inducibly, depending on the promoter used, can be introduced stably into cell lines. Moreover, various well-known modifications to nucleic acid molecules may be introduced as a means of increasing intracellular stability and half-life. Possible modifications include but are not limited to the addition of flanking sequences of ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides to the 5′ and/or 3′ ends of the molecule or the use of phosphorothioate or 2′ O-methyl rather than phosphodiesterase linkages within the oligodeoxyribonucleotide backbone.

6. Drug Screening Assays

In certain aspects, the present application provides assays for identifying therapeutic agents which either interfere with or promote POSH or POSH-AP function. In certain aspects, the present application also provides assays for identifying therapeutic agents which either interfere with or promote the complex formation between a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP polypeptide.

In certain embodiments, agents of the application are antiviral agents, optionally interfering with viral maturation, and preferably where the virus is an envelope virus, and optionally a retroid virus or an RNA virus. In other embodiments, agents of the application are anticancer agents. In further embodiments, agents of the application inhibit the progression of a neurodegenerative disorder. In certain embodiments, an antiviral or anticancer agent or an agent that inhibits the progression of a neurodegenerative disorder interferes with the ubiquitin ligase catalytic activity of POSH (e.g., POSH auto-ubiquitination or transfer to a target protein). In other embodiments, agents disclosed herein inhibit or promote POSH and POSH-AP mediated cellular processes such as apoptosis and protein processing in the secretory pathway.

In certain preferred embodiments, an antiviral agent interferes with the interaction between POSH and a POSH-AP polypeptide, for example an antiviral agent may disrupt or render irreversible interaction between a POSH polypeptide and POSH-AP polypeptide (as in the case of a POSH dimer, a heterodimer of two different POSH polypeptides, homomultimers and heteromultimers). In further embodiments, agents of the application are anti-apoptotic agents, optionally interfering with JNK and/or NF-κB signaling. In yet additional embodiments, agents of the application interfere with the signaling of a GTPase, such as Rac or Ras, optionally disrupting the interaction between a POSH polypeptide and a Rac protein. In certain embodiments, agents of the application modulate the ubiquitin ligase activity of POSH and may be used to treat certain diseases related to ubiquitin ligase activity. In certain embodiments, agents of the application interfere with the trafficking of a protein through the secretory pathway.

In certain embodiments, the application provides assays to identify, optimize or otherwise assess agents that increase or decrease a ubiquitin-related activity of a POSH polypeptide. Ubiquitin-related activities of POSH polypeptides may include the self-ubiquitination activity of a POSH polypeptide, generally involving the transfer of ubiquitin from an E2 enzyme to the POSH polypeptide, and the ubiquitination of a target protein, generally involving the transfer of a ubiquitin from a POSH polypeptide to the target protein. In certain embodiments, a POSH activity is mediated, at least in part, by a POSH RING domain.

In certain embodiments, an assay comprises forming a mixture comprising a POSH polypeptide, an E2 polypeptide and a source of ubiquitin (which may be the E2 polypeptide pre-complexed with ubiquitin). Optionally the mixture comprises an E1 polypeptide and optionally the mixture comprises a target polypeptide. Additional components of the mixture may be selected to provide conditions consistent with the ubiquitination of the POSH polypeptide. One or more of a variety of parameters may be detected, such as POSH-ubiquitin conjugates, E2-ubiquitin thioesters, free ubiquitin and target polypeptide-ubiquitin complexes. The term “detect” is used herein to include a determination of the presence or absence of the subject of detection (e.g., POSH-ubiqutin, E2-ubiquitin, etc.), a quantitative measure of the amount of the subject of detection, or a mathematical calculation of the presence, absence or amount of the subject of detection, based on the detection of other parameters. The term “detect” includes the situation wherein the subject of detection is determined to be absent or below the level of sensitivity. Detection may comprise detection of a label (e.g., fluorescent label, radioisotope label, and other described below), resolution and identification by size (e.g., SDS-PAGE, mass spectroscopy), purification and detection, and other methods that, in view of this specification, will be available to one of skill in the art. For instance, radioisotope labeling may be measured by scintillation counting, or by densitometry after exposure to a photographic emulsion, or by using a device such as a Phosphorimager. Likewise, densitometry may be used to measure bound ubiquitin following a reaction with an enzyme label substrate that produces an opaque product when an enzyme label is used. In a preferred embodiment, an assay comprises detecting the POSH-ubiquitin conjugate.

In certain embodiments, an assay comprises forming a mixture comprising a POSH polypeptide, a target polypeptide and a source of ubiquitin (which may be the POSH polypeptide pre-complexed with ubiquitin). Optionally the mixture comprises an E1 and/or E2 polypeptide and optionally the mixture comprises an E2-ubiquitin thioester. Additional components of the mixture may be selected to provide conditions consistent with the ubiquitination of the target polypeptide. One or more of a variety of parameters may be detected, such as POSH-ubiquitin conjugates and target polypeptide-ubiquitin conjugates. In a preferred embodiment, an assay comprises detecting the target polypeptide-ubiquitin conjugate. In another preferred embodiment, an assay comprises detecting the POSH-ubiquitin conjugate.

An assay described above may be used in a screening assay to identify agents that modulate a ubiquitin-related activity of a POSH polypeptide. A screening assay will generally involve adding a test agent to one of the above assays, or any other assay designed to assess a ubiquitin-related activity of a POSH polypeptide. The parameter(s) detected in a screening assay may be compared to a suitable reference. A suitable reference may be an assay run previously, in parallel or later that omits the test agent. A suitable reference may also be an average of previous measurements in the absence of the test agent. In general the components of a screening assay mixture may be added in any order consistent with the overall activity to be assessed, but certain variations may be preferred. For example, in certain embodiments, it may be desirable to pre-incubate the test agent and the E3 (e.g., the POSH polypeptide), followed by removing the test agent and addition of other components to complete the assay. In this manner, the effects of the agent solely on the POSH polypeptide may be assessed. In certain preferred embodiments, a screening assay for an antiviral agent employs a target polypeptide comprising an L domain, and preferably an HIV L domain.

In certain embodiments, an assay is performed in a high-throughput format. For example, one of the components of a mixture may be affixed to a solid substrate and one or more of the other components is labeled. For example, the POSH polypeptide may be affixed to a surface, such as a 96-well plate, and the ubiquitin is in solution and labeled. An E2 and E1 are also in solution, and the POSH-ubiquitin conjugate formation may be measured by washing the solid surface to remove uncomplexed labeled ubiquitin and detecting the ubiquitin that remains bound. Other variations may be used. For example, the amount of ubiquitin in solution may be detected. In certain embodiments, the formation of ubiquitin complexes may be measured by an interactive technique, such as FRET, wherein a ubiquitin is labeled with a first label and the desired complex partner (e.g., POSH polypeptide or target polypeptide) is labeled with a second label, wherein the first and second label interact when they come into close proximity to produce an altered signal. In FRET, the first and second labels are fluorophores. FRET is described in greater detail below. The formation of polyubiquitin complexes may be performed by mixing two or more pools of differentially labeled ubiquitin that interact upon formation of a polyubiqutin (see, e.g., US Patent Publication 20020042083). High-throughput may be achieved by performing an interactive assay, such as FRET, in solution as well. In addition, if a polypeptide in the mixture, such as the POSH polypeptide or target polypeptide, is readily purifiable (e.g., with a specific antibody or via a tag such as biotin, FLAG, polyhistidine, etc.), the reaction may be performed in solution and the tagged polypeptide rapidly isolated, along with any polypeptides, such as ubiquitin, that are associated with the tagged polypeptide. Proteins may also be resolved by SDS-PAGE for detection.

In certain embodiments, the ubiquitin is labeled, either directly or indirectly. This typically allows for easy and rapid detection and measurement of ligated ubiquitin, making the assay useful for high-throughput screening applications. As descrived above, certain embodiments may employ one or more tagged or labeled proteins. A “tag” is meant to include moieties that facilitate rapid isolation of the tagged polypeptide. A tag may be used to facilitate attachment of a polypeptide to a surface. A “label” is meant to include moieties that facilitate rapid detection of the labeled polypeptide. Certain moieties may be used both as a label and a tag (e.g., epitope tags that are readily purified and detected with a well-characterized antibody). Biotinylation of polypeptides is well known, for example, a large number of biotinylation agents are known, including amine-reactive and thiol-reactive agents, for the biotinylation of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids; see chapter 4, Molecular Probes Catalog, Haugland, 6th Ed. 1996, hereby incorporated by reference. A biotinylated substrate can be attached to a biotinylated component via avidin or streptavidin. Similarly, a large number of haptenylation reagents are also known.

An “E1” is a ubiquitin activating enzyme. In a preferred embodiment, E1 is capable of transferring ubiquitin to an E2. In a preferred embodiment, E1 forms a high energy thiolester bond with ubiquitin, thereby “activating” the ubiquitin. An “E2” is a ubiquitin carrier enzyme (also known as a ubiquitin conjugating enzyme). In a preferred embodiment, ubiquitin is transferred from E1 to E2. In a preferred embodiment, the transfer results in a thiolester bond formed between E2 and ubiquitin. In a preferred embodiment, E2 is capable of transferring ubiquitin to a POSH polypeptide.

In an alternative embodiment, a POSH polypeptide, E2 or target polypeptide is bound to a bead, optionally with the assistance of a tag. Following ligation, the beads may be separated from the unbound ubiquitin and the bound ubiquitin measured. In a preferred embodiment, POSH polypeptide is bound to beads and the composition used includes labeled ubiquitin. In this embodiment, the beads with bound ubiquitin may be separated using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) machine. Methods for such use are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/047,119, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. The amount of bound ubiquitin can then be measured.

In a screening assay, the effect of a test agent may be assessed by, for example, assessing the effect of the test agent on kinetics, steady-state and/or endpoint of the reaction.

The components of the various assay mixtures provided herein may be combined in varying amounts. In a preferred embodiment, ubiquitin (or E2 complexed ubiquitin) is combined at a final concentration of from 5 to 200 ng per 100 microliter reaction solution. Optionally E1 is used at a final concentration of from 1 to 50 ng per 100 microliter reaction solution. Optionally E2 is combined at a final concentration of 10 to 100 ng per 100 microliter reaction solution, more preferably 10-50 ng per 100 microliter reaction solution. In a preferred embodiment, POSH polypeptide is combined at a final concentration of from 1 to 500 ng per 100 microliter reaction solution.

Generally, an assay mixture is prepared so as to favor ubiquitin ligase activity and/or ubiquitination activity. Generally, this will be physiological conditions, such as 50-200 mM salt (e.g., NaCl, KCl), pH of between 5 and 9, and preferably between 6 and 8. Such conditions may be optimized through trial and error. Incubations may be performed at any temperature which facilitates optimal activity, typically between 4 and 40° C. Incubation periods are selected for optimum activity, but may also be optimized to facilitate rapid high through put screening. Typically between 0.5 and 1.5 hours will be sufficient. A variety of other reagents may be included in the compositions. These include reagents like salts, solvents, buffers, neutral proteins, e.g., albumin, detergents, etc. which may be used to facilitate optimal ubiquitination enzyme activity and/or reduce non-specific or background interactions. Also reagents that otherwise improve the efficiency of the assay, such as protease inhibitors, nuclease inhibitors, anti-microbial agents, etc., may be used. The compositions will also preferably include adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP). The mixture of components may be added in any order that promotes ubiquitin ligase activity or optimizes identification of candidate modulator effects. In a preferred embodiment, ubiquitin is provided in a reaction buffer solution, followed by addition of the ubiquitination enzymes. In an alternate preferred embodiment, ubiquitin is provided in a reaction buffer solution, a candidate modulator is then added, followed by addition of the ubiquitination enzymes.

In general, a test agent that decreases a POSH ubiquitin-related activity may be used to inhibit POSH function in vivo, while a test agent that increases a POSH ubiquitin-related activity may be used to stimulate POSH function in vivo. Test agent may be modified for use in vivo, e.g., by addition of a hydrophobic moiety, such as an ester.

In certain embodiments, a ubiquitination assay as described above for POSH can similarly be conducted for a Cbl-b, a SIAH1, or a TTC3 polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the application provides assays to identify, optimize or otherwise assess agents that increase or decrease a ubiquitin-related activity of a Cbl-b, a SIAH1, or a TTC3 polypeptide. Ubiquitin-related activities of Cbl-b, SIAH1, or TTC3 polypeptides may include the self-ubiquitination activity of a Cbl-b, SIAH1, or TTC3 polypeptide, generally involving the transfer of ubiquitin from an E2 enzyme to the respective Cbl-b, SIAH1, or TTC3 polypeptide, and the ubiquitination of a target protein, e.g., the p85 subunit of PI3K, e.g, synaptophysin, generally involving the transfer of a ubiquitin from a Cbl-b, SIAH1, or TTC3 polypeptide to the target protein, e.g, the p85 subunit of P13K, e.g., synaptophysin, e.g., HERPUD1. In certain embodiments, a Cbl-b, a SIAH1, or a TTC3 activity is mediated, at least in part, by a RING domain of a Cbl-b, a SIAH1, or a TTC3, respectively.

An additional POSH-AP may be added to a POSH ubiquitination assay to assess the effect of the POSH-AP (e.g., PRKAR1A, PRKACA, or PRKACB) on POSH-mediated ubiquitination and/or to assess whether the POSH-AP is a target for POSH-mediated ubiquitination (e.g., HERPUD1, e.g., PKA).

Certain embodiments of the application relate to assays for identifying agents that bind to a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide, optionally a particular domain of POSH such as an SH3 or RING domain or a particular domain of a POSH-AP, particularly a kinase catalytic domain or ATP binding domain. In preferred embodiments, a POSH polypeptide is a polypeptide comprising the fourth SH3 domain of hPOSH (SEQ ID NO: 30). A wide variety of assays may be used for this purpose, including labeled in vitro protein-protein binding assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, immunoassays for protein binding, and the like. The purified protein may also be used for determination of three-dimensional crystal structure, which can be used for modeling intermolecular interactions and design of test agents. In one embodiment, an assay detects agents which inhibit interaction of one or more subject POSH polypeptides with a POSH-AP. In another embodiment, the assay detects agents which modulate the intrinsic biological activity of a POSH polypeptide or POSH complex, such as an enzymatic activity, binding to other cellular components, cellular compartmentalization, and the like.

Certain embodiments of the application relate to assays for identifying agents that modulate a POSH-AP polypeptide such as a PKA subunit polypeptide. Preferred PKA subunit polypeptides include PRKAR1A, PRKACA, and PRKACB. Exemplary assays used for this purpose may include detecting phosphorylation of PKA subunit, kinase activity of the PKA subunit, ability of the PKA subunit to elicit downstream signaling of the PKA pathway, and the like. For example, activity of protein kinase A can be assayed either in vitro or in vivo. PKA activity can be determined by detecting posphorylation of a PKA specific substrate. The specific PKA substrate can be any convenient peptide with a serine that is recognized as a phosphorylation site by PKA. For example, the peptide substrate can have the sequence: Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Gly.

In one aspect, the application provides methods and compositions for the identification of compositions that interfere with the function of POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides. Given the role of POSH polypeptides in viral production, compositions that perturb the formation or stability of the protein-protein interactions between POSH polypeptides and the proteins that they interact with, such as POSH-APs, and particularly POSH complexes comprising a viral protein, are candidate pharmaceuticals for the treatment of viral infections.

While not wishing to be bound to mechanism, it is postulated that POSH polypeptides promote the assembly of protein complexes that are important in release of virions and other biological processes. Complexes of the application may include a combination of a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP. Exemplary complexes may comprise one or more of the following: a POSH polypeptide (as in the case of a POSH dimer, a heterodimer of two different POSH, homomultimers and heteromultimers); a HERPUD1 polypeptide; or an MSTP028 polypeptide.

In an assay for an antiviral or antiapoptotic agent, the test agent is assessed for its ability to disrupt or inhibit the formation of a complex of a POSH polypeptide and a small GTPase, such as a Rac polypeptide, particularly a human Rac polypeptide, such as Rac1.

A variety of assay formats will suffice and, in light of the present disclosure, those not expressly described herein will nevertheless be comprehended by one of ordinary skill in the art. Assay formats which approximate such conditions as formation of protein complexes, enzymatic activity, and even a POSH polypeptide-mediated membrane reorganization or vesicle formation activity, may be generated in many different forms, and include assays based on cell-free systems, e.g., purified proteins or cell lysates, as well as cell-based assays which utilize intact cells. Simple binding assays can also be used to detect agents which bind to POSH. Such binding assays may also identify agents that act by disrupting the interaction between a POSH polypeptide and a POSH interacting protein, or the binding of a POSH polypeptide or complex to a substrate. Agents to be tested can be produced, for example, by bacteria, yeast or other organisms (e.g., natural products), produced chemically (e.g., small molecules, including peptidomimetics), or produced recombinantly. In a preferred embodiment, the test agent is a small organic molecule, e.g., other than a peptide or oligonucleotide, having a molecular weight of less than about 2,000 daltons.

In many drug screening programs which test libraries of compounds and natural extracts, high throughput assays are desirable in order to maximize the number of compounds surveyed in a given period of time. Assays of the present application which are performed in cell-free systems, such as may be developed with purified or semi-purified proteins or with lysates, are often preferred as “primary” screens in that they can be generated to permit rapid development and relatively easy detection of an alteration in a molecular target which is mediated by a test compound. Moreover, the effects of cellular toxicity and/or bioavailability of the test compound can be generally ignored in the in vitro system, the assay instead being focused primarily on the effect of the drug on the molecular target as may be manifest in an alteration of binding affinity with other proteins or changes in enzymatic properties of the molecular target.

In preferred in vitro embodiments of the present assay, a reconstituted POSH complex comprises a reconstituted mixture of at least semi-purified proteins. By semi-purified, it is meant that the proteins utilized in the reconstituted mixture have been previously separated from other cellular or viral proteins. For instance, in contrast to cell lysates, the proteins involved in POSH complex formation are present in the mixture to at least 50% purity relative to all other proteins in the mixture, and more preferably are present at 90-95% purity. In certain embodiments of the subject method, the reconstituted protein mixture is derived by mixing highly purified proteins such that the reconstituted mixture substantially lacks other proteins (such as of cellular or viral origin) which might interfere with or otherwise alter the ability to measure POSH complex assembly and/or disassembly.

Assaying POSH complexes, in the presence and absence of a candidate inhibitor, can be accomplished in any vessel suitable for containing the reactants. Examples include microtitre plates, test tubes, and micro-centrifuge tubes.

In one embodiment of the present application, drug screening assays can be generated which detect inhibitory agents on the basis of their ability to interfere with assembly or stability of the POSH complex. In an exemplary binding assay, the compound of interest is contacted with a mixture comprising a POSH polypeptide and at least one interacting polypeptide. Detection and quantification of POSH complexes provides a means for determining the compound's efficacy at inhibiting (or potentiating) interaction between the two polypeptides. The efficacy of the compound can be assessed by generating dose response curves from data obtained using various concentrations of the test compound. Moreover, a control assay can also be performed to provide a baseline for comparison. In the control assay, the formation of complexes is quantitated in the absence of the test compound.

Complex formation between the POSH polypeptides and a substrate polypeptide may be detected by a variety of techniques, many of which are effectively described above. For instance, modulation in the formation of complexes can be quantitated using, for example, detectably labeled proteins (e.g., radiolabeled, fluorescently labeled, or enzymatically labeled), by immunoassay, or by chromatographic detection. Surface plasmon resonance systems, such as those available from Biacore International AB (Uppsala, Sweden), may also be used to detect protein-protein interaction

Often, it will be desirable to immobilize one of the polypeptides to facilitate separation of complexes from uncomplexed forms of one of the proteins, as well as to accommodate automation of the assay. In an illustrative embodiment, a fusion protein can be provided which adds a domain that permits the protein to be bound to an insoluble matrix. For example, GST-POSH fusion proteins can be adsorbed onto glutathione sepharose beads (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione derivatized microtitre plates, which are then combined with a potential interacting protein, e.g., an ³⁵S-labeled polypeptide, and the test compound and incubated under conditions conducive to complex formation. Following incubation, the beads are washed to remove any unbound interacting protein, and the matrix bead-bound radiolabel determined directly (e.g., beads placed in scintillant), or in the supernatant after the complexes are dissociated, e.g., when microtitre plate is used. Alternatively, after washing away unbound protein, the complexes can be dissociated from the matrix, separated by SDS-PAGE gel, and the level of interacting polypeptide found in the matrix-bound fraction quantitated from the gel using standard electrophoretic techniques.

In a further embodiment, agents that bind to a POSH or POSH-AP may be identified by using an immobilized POSH or POSH-AP. In an illustrative embodiment, a fusion protein can be provided which adds a domain that permits the protein to be bound to an insoluble matrix. For example, GST-POSH fusion proteins can be adsorbed onto glutathione sepharose beads (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione derivatized microtitre plates, which are then combined with a potential labeled binding agent and incubated under conditions conducive to binding. Following incubation, the beads are washed to remove any unbound agent, and the matrix bead-bound label determined directly, or in the supernatant after the bound agent is dissociated.

In yet another embodiment, the POSH polypeptide and potential interacting polypeptide can be used to generate an interaction trap assay (see also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,317; Zervos et al. (1993) Cell 72:223-232; Madura et al. (1993) J Biol Chem 268:12046-12054; Bartel et al. (1993) Biotechniques 14:920-924; and Iwabuchi et al. (1993) Oncogene 8:1693-1696), for subsequently detecting agents which disrupt binding of the proteins to one and other.

In particular, the method makes use of chimeric genes which express hybrid proteins. To illustrate, a first hybrid gene comprises the coding sequence for a DNA-binding domain of a transcriptional activator can be fused in frame to the coding sequence for a “bait” protein, e.g., a POSH polypeptide of sufficient length to bind to a potential interacting protein. The second hybrid protein encodes a transcriptional activation domain fused in frame to a gene encoding a “fish” protein, e.g., a potential interacting protein of sufficient length to interact with the POSH polypeptide portion of the bait fusion protein. If the bait and fish proteins are able to interact, e.g., form a POSH complex, they bring into close proximity the two domains of the transcriptional activator. This proximity causes transcription of a reporter gene which is operably linked to a transcriptional regulatory site responsive to the transcriptional activator, and expression of the reporter gene can be detected and used to score for the interaction of the bait and fish proteins.

One aspect of the present application provides reconstituted protein preparations including a POSH polypeptide and one or more interacting polypeptides.

In still further embodiments of the present assay, the POSH complex is generated in whole cells, taking advantage of cell culture techniques to support the subject assay. For example, as described below, the POSH complex can be constituted in a eukaryotic cell culture system, including mammalian and yeast cells. Often it will be desirable to express one or more viral proteins (e.g., Gag or Env) in such a cell along with a subject POSH polypeptide. It may also be desirable to infect the cell with a virus of interest. Advantages to generating the subject assay in an intact cell include the ability to detect inhibitors which are functional in an environment more closely approximating that which therapeutic use of the inhibitor would require, including the ability of the agent to gain entry into the cell. Furthermore, certain of the in vivo embodiments of the assay, such as examples given below, are amenable to high through-put analysis of candidate agents.

The components of the POSH complex can be endogenous to the cell selected to support the assay. Alternatively, some or all of the components can be derived from exogenous sources. For instance, fusion proteins can be introduced into the cell by recombinant techniques (such as through the use of an expression vector), as well as by microinjecting the fusion protein itself or mRNA encoding the fusion protein.

In many embodiments, a cell is manipulated after incubation with a candidate agent and assayed for a POSH or POSH-AP activity. In certain embodiments, a POSH-AP, such as PTPN12, is a tyrosine phosphatase. Tyrosine phosphatase activity may be assessed by incubating a cell lysate, which has optionally been treated with pervanadate to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation, with a POSH-AP that has tyrosine phosphatase activity, immunoprecipitating the substrate protein and immunoblotting for the presence of phosphorylated tyrosine. Alternatively, tyrosine phosphatase activity may be assessed by the substrate trapping method. The substrate trapping method employs catalytically inactive mutants of a tyrosine phosphatase (e.g., a POSH-AP such as PTPN12). The catalytically inactive phosphatase mutant is immobilized on a solid matrix (e.g., AG25-protein A-Sepharose beads) and incubated with a substrate protein. The solid matrix to which the catalytically inactive phosphatase is bound is isolated and subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting for the presence of the substrate protein. The proteins employed in a phosphatase assay may optionally be purified proteins. (Lyons, P D et al (2001) J Biol Chem 246:24422-31; Garton, A J et al (1996) Mol Cell Biol 16:6408-18).

In many embodiments, a cell is manipulated after incubation with a candidate agent and assayed for a POSH or POSH-AP activity. In certain embodiments a POSH or POSH-AP activity is represented by production of virus like particles. As demonstrated herein, an agent that disrupts POSH or POSH-AP activity can cause a decrease in the production of virus like particles. Other bioassays for POSH or POSH-AP activities may include apoptosis assays (e.g., cell survival assays, apoptosis reporter gene assays, etc.) and NF-kB nuclear localization assays (see e.g., Tapon et al. (1998) EMBO J. 17: 1395-1404). One apoptosis assay that may be used to assess TGN-associated protein activity is the TUNEL assay, which is used to detect the presence of apoptotic cell death. In the TUNEL assay, the enzyme terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase labels 3′-OH DNA ends (which are generated during apoptosis) with biotinylated nucleotides. The biotinylated nucleotides are then detected by immunoperoxidase staining. Another apoptosis assay that may be used to assess TGN-associated protein activity is the caspase assay, in which caspase activity is measured using a blue fluorescent substrate. Cleavage of the substrate by caspase 3 releases the fluorochrome, which then fluoresces green. An assay that may be employed to monitor cell proliferation associated with a TGN-associated protein is the MTT cell proliferation assay. The MTT cell proliferation assay is a colorimetric assay which measures the reduction of a tetrazolium component (MTT) into an insoluble formazan product by the mitochondria of viable cells. After incubation of the cells with the MTT reagent, a detergent solution is added to lyse the cells and solubilize the colored crystals. The samples may be read using an ELISA plate reader. The amount of color produced is directly proportional to the number of viable cells.

In certain embodiments, POSH or POSH-AP activities may include, without limitation, complex formation, ubiquitination and membrane fusion events (eg. release of viral buds or fusion of vesicles). POSH-AP activity may be assessed by the presence of phosphorylated substrate, such as, in the case of PKA, phosphorylated POSH. The interaction of POSH with a small GTPase such as Rac may also be indicative of the absence of phosphorylation of POSH by PKA. POSH complex formation may be assessed by immunoprecipitation and analysis of co-immunoprecipiated proteins or affinity purification and analysis of co-purified proteins. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based assays or other energy transfer assays may also be used to determine complex formation.

The effect of an agent that modulates the activity of POSH or a POSH-AP may be evaluated for effects on the trafficking of a protein through the secretory system. For example, the effects of the agent on the trafficking of the protein may be assessed by detecting the glycosylation of the protein in the presence and absence of the agent, for instance, through the use of antibodies specific for sugar moieties. For example, cell lysates from cells treated in the absence and presence of an agent that modulates the activity of POSH or a POSH-AP may be subjected to immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with antibodies directed to the glycoprotein of interest and the glycosylation state of the protein then compared.

Additional bioassays for assessing POSH and POSH-AP activities may include assays to detect the improper processing of a protein that is associated with a neurological disorder. One assay that may be used is an assay to detect the presence, including an increase or a decrease in the amount, of a protein associated with a neurological disorder. For example, the use of RNAi may be employed to knockdown the expression of a POSH or POSH-AP in cells (e.g., CHO cells or COS cells). The production of a secreted protein such as for example, amyloid beta, in the cell culture media, can then be assessed and compared to production of the secreted protein from control cells, which may be cells in which the POSH or POSH-AP activity has not been inhibited. The production of secreted proteins may be assessed, such as amyloid beta protein, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. In some instances, a label may be incorporated into a secreted protein and the presence of the labeled secreted protein detected in the cell culture media. Proteins secreted from any cell type may be assessed, including for example, neural cells.

The effect of an agent that modulates the activity of POSH or a POSH-AP may be evaluated for effects on mouse models of various neurological disorders. For example, mouse models of Alzheimer's disease have been described. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,486 for “Transgenic Animals Harboring APP Allele Having Swedish Mutation,”U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,003 (the '003 patent) for “Transgenic Rodents Harboring APP Allele Having Swedish Mutation,”and U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,169 entitled “Nucleic Acids for Diagnosing and Modeling Alzheimer's Disease”. Mouse models of Alzheimer's disease tend to produce elevated levels of beta-amyloid protein in the brain, and the increase or decrease of such protein in response to treatment with a test agent may be detected. In some instances, it may also be desirable to assess the effects of a test agent on cognitive or behavioral characteristics of a mouse model for Alzheimer's disease, as well as mouse models for other neurological disorders.

In a further embodiment, transcript levels may be measured in cells having higher or lower levels of POSH or POSH-AP activity in order to identify genes that are regulated by POSH or POSH-APs. Promoter regions for such genes (or larger portions of such genes) may be operatively linked to a reporter gene and used in a reporter gene-based assay to detect agents that enhance or diminish POSH- or POSH-AP-regulated gene expression. Transcript levels may be determined in any way known in the art, such as, for example, Northern blotting, RT-PCR, microarray, etc. Increased POSH activity may be achieved, for example, by introducing a strong POSH expression vector. Decreased POSH activity may be achieved, for example, by RNAi, antisense, ribozyme, gene knockout, etc.

In general, where the screening assay is a binding assay (whether protein-protein binding, agent-protein binding, etc.), one or more of the molecules may be joined to a label, where the label can directly or indirectly provide a detectable signal. Various labels include radioisotopes, fluorescers, chemiluminescers, enzymes, specific binding molecules, particles, e.g., magnetic particles, and the like. Specific binding molecules include pairs, such as biotin and streptavidin, digoxin and antidigoxin etc. For the specific binding members, the complementary member would normally be labeled with a molecule that provides for detection, in accordance with known procedures.

In further embodiments, the application provides methods for identifying targets for therapeutic intervention. A polypeptide that interacts with POSH or participates in a POSH-mediated process (such as viral maturation) may be used to identify candidate therapeutics. Such targets may be identified by identifying proteins that associated with POSH (POSH-APs) by, for example, immunoprecipitation with an anti-POSH antibody, in silico analysis of high-throughput binding data, two-hybrid screens, and other protein-protein interaction assays described herein or otherwise known in the art in view of this disclosure. Agents that bind to such targets or disrupt protein-protein interactions thereof, or inhibit a biochemical activity thereof may be used in such an assay. Targets that have been identified by such approaches include POSH-APs provided in Tables 7 and 8 and in FIG. 36.

A variety of other reagents may be included in the screening assay. These include reagents like salts, neutral proteins, e.g., albumin, detergents, etc that are used to facilitate optimal protein-protein binding and/or reduce nonspecific or background interactions. Reagents that improve the efficiency of the assay, such as protease inhibitors, nuclease inhibitors, anti-microbial agents, etc. may be used. The mixture of components are added in any order that provides for the requisite binding. Incubations are performed at any suitable temperature, typically between 4° C. and 40° C. Incubation periods are selected for optimum activity, but may also be optimized to facilitate rapid high-throughput screening.

In certain embodiments, a test agent may be assessed for antiviral or anticancer activity by assessing effects on an activity (function) of a POSH-AP. Activity (function) may be affected by an agent that acts at one or more of the transcriptional, translational or post-translational stages. For example, an siRNA directed to a POSH-AP encoding gene will decrease activity, as will a small molecule that interferes with a catalytic activity of a POSH-AP. In certain embodiments, the agent inhibits the activity of one or more polypeptides selected from among HERPUD1 and MSTP028.

7. Exemplary Nucleic Acids and Expression Vectors

In certain aspects, the application relates to nucleic acids encoding POSH polypeptides, such as, for example, SEQ ID Nos: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Nucleic acids of the application are further understood to include nucleic acids that comprise variants of SEQ ID Nos:1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35. Variant nucleotide sequences include sequences that differ by one or more nucleotide substitutions, additions or deletions, such as allelic variants; and will, therefore, include coding sequences that differ from the nucleotide sequence of the coding sequence designated in SEQ ID Nos:1, 3, 4, 6, 8 10, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35, e.g., due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. In other embodiments, variants will also include sequences that will hybridize under highly stringent conditions to a nucleotide sequence of a coding sequence designated in any of SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 10, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35. Preferred nucleic acids of the application are human POSH sequences, including, for example, any of SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3, 4, 6, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and variants thereof and nucleic acids encoding an amino acid sequence selected from among SEQ ID Nos: 2, 5, 7, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

In certain aspects, the application relates to nucleic acids encoding POSH-AP polypeptides. For example, POSH-APs of the disclosure are listed in Table 7. Nucleic acid sequences encoding these POSH-APs are provided in FIG. 36. Additional examples of POSH-APs of the disclosure are provided in Table 8. In certain embodiments, variants will also include nucleic acid sequences that will hybridize under highly stringent conditions to a nucleotide sequence of a coding sequence of a POSH-AP. Preferred nucleic acids of the application are human POSH-AP sequences and variants thereof.

One of ordinary skill in the art will understand readily that appropriate stringency conditions which promote DNA hybridization can be varied. For example, one could perform the hybridization at 6.0× sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45° C., followed by a wash of 2.0×SSC at 50° C. For example, the salt concentration in the wash step can be selected from a low stringency of about 2.0×SSC at 50° C. to a high stringency of about 0.2×SSC at 50° C. In addition, the temperature in the wash step can be increased from low stringency conditions at room temperature, about 22° C., to high stringency conditions at about 65° C. Both temperature and salt may be varied, or temperature or salt concentration may be held constant while the other variable is changed. In one embodiment, the application provides nucleic acids which hybridize under low stringency conditions of 6×SSC at room temperature followed by a wash at 2×SSC at room temperature.

Isolated nucleic acids which differ from the POSH nucleic acid sequences or from the POSH-AP nucleic acid sequences due to degeneracy in the genetic code are also within the scope of the application. For example, a number of amino acids are designated by more than one triplet. Codons that specify the same amino acid, or synonyms (for example, CAU and CAC are synonyms for histidine) may result in “silent” mutations which do not affect the amino acid sequence of the protein. However, it is expected that DNA sequence polymorphisms that do lead to changes in the amino acid sequences of the subject proteins will exist among mammalian cells. One skilled in the art will appreciate that these variations in one or more nucleotides (up to about 3-5% of the nucleotides) of the nucleic acids encoding a particular protein may exist among individuals of a given species due to natural allelic variation. Any and all such nucleotide variations and resulting amino acid polymorphisms are within the scope of this application.

Optionally, a POSH or a POSH-AP nucleic acid of the application will genetically complement a partial or complete loss of function phenotype in a cell. For example, a POSH nucleic acid of the application may be expressed in a cell in which endogenous POSH has been reduced by RNAi, and the introduced POSH nucleic acid will mitigate a phenotype resulting from the RNAi. An exemplary POSH loss of function phenotype is a decrease in virus-like particle production in a cell transfected with a viral vector, optionally an HIV vector.

Another aspect of the application relates to POSH and POSH-AP nucleic acids that are used for antisense, RNAi or ribozymes. As used herein, nucleic acid therapy refers to administration or iii situ generation of a nucleic acid or a derivative thereof which specifically hybridizes (e.g., binds) under cellular conditions with the cellular mRNA and/or genomic DNA encoding one of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides so as to inhibit production of that protein, e.g., by inhibiting transcription and/or translation. The binding may be by conventional base pair complementarity, or, for example, in the case of binding to DNA duplexes, through specific interactions in the major groove of the double helix.

A nucleic acid therapy construct of the present application can be delivered, for example, as an expression plasmid which, when transcribed in the cell, produces RNA which is complementary to at least a unique portion of the cellular mRNA which encodes a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. Alternatively, the the construct is an oligonucleotide which is generated ex vivo and which, when introduced into the cell causes inhibition of expression by hybridizing with the mRNA and/or genomic sequences encoding a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. Such oligonucleotide probes are optionally modified oligonucleotide which are resistant to endogenous nucleases, e.g., exonucleases and/or endonucleases, and is therefore stable in vivo. Exemplary nucleic acid molecules for use as antisense oligonucleotides are phosphoramidate, phosphothioate and methylphosphonate analogs of DNA (see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,176,996; 5,264,564; and 5,256,775). Additionally, general approaches to constructing oligomers useful in nucleic acid therapy have been reviewed, for example, by van der Krol et al., (1988) Biotechniques 6:958-976; and Stein et al., (1988) Cancer Res 48:2659-2668.

Accordingly, the modified oligomers of the application are useful in therapeutic, diagnostic, and research contexts. In therapeutic applications, the oligomers are utilized in a manner appropriate for nucleic acid therapy in general.

In another aspect of the application, the subject nucleic acid is provided in an expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide and operably linked, to at least one regulatory sequence. Regulatory sequences are art-recognized and are selected to direct expression of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. Accordingly, the term regulatory sequence includes promoters, enhancers and other expression control elements. Exemplary regulatory sequences are described in Goeddel; Gene Expression Technology: Methods in Enzymology, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990). For instance, any of a wide variety of expression control sequences that control the expression of a DNA sequence when operatively linked to it may be used in these vectors to express DNA sequences encoding a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. Such useful expression control sequences, include, for example, the early and late promoters of SV40, tet promoter, adenovirus or cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter, the lac system, the trp system, the TAC or TRC system, T7 promoter whose expression is directed by T7 RNA polymerase, the major operator and promoter regions of phage lambda, the control regions for fd coat protein, the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or other glycolytic enzymes, the promoters of acid phosphatase, e.g., Pho5, the promoters of the yeast α-mating factors, the polyhedron promoter of the baculovirus system and other sequences known to control the expression of genes of prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells or their viruses, and various combinations thereof. It should be understood that the design of the expression vector may depend on such factors as the choice of the host cell to be transformed and/or the type of protein desired to be expressed. Moreover, the vector's copy number, the ability to control that copy number and the expression of any other protein encoded by the vector, such as antibiotic markers, should also be considered.

As will be apparent, the subject gene constructs can be used to cause expression of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides in cells propagated in culture, e.g., to produce proteins or polypeptides, including fusion proteins or polypeptides, for purification.

This application also pertains to a host cell transfected with a recombinant gene including a coding sequence for one or more of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides. The host cell may be any prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. For example, a polypeptide of the present application may be expressed in bacterial cells such as E. coli, insect cells (e.g., using a baculovirus expression system), yeast, or mammalian cells. Other suitable host cells are known to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present application further pertains to methods of producing the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides. For example, a host cell transfected with an expression vector encoding a POSH polypeptide can be cultured under appropriate conditions to allow expression of the polypeptide to occur. The polypeptide may be secreted and isolated from a mixture of cells and medium containing the polypeptide. Alternatively, the polypeptide may be retained cytoplasmically and the cells harvested, lysed and the protein isolated. A cell culture includes host cells, media and other byproducts. Suitable media for cell culture are well known in the art. The polypeptide can be isolated from cell culture medium, host cells, or both using techniques known in the art for purifying proteins, including ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, ultrafiltration, electrophoresis, and immunoaffinity purification with antibodies specific for p articular epitopes of the polypeptide. In a preferred embodiment, the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide is a fusion protein containing a domain which facilitates its purification, such as a POSH-GST fusion protein, POSH-intein fusion protein, POSH-cellulose binding domain fusion protein, POSH-polyhistidine fusion protein etc.

A recombinant POSH or POSH-AP nucleic acid can be produced by ligating the cloned gene, or a portion thereof, into a vector suitable for expression in either prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells, or both. Expression vehicles for production of a recombinant POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides include plasmids and other vectors. For instance, suitable vectors for the expression of a POSH polypeptide include plasmids of the types: pBR322-derived plasmids, pEMBL-derived plasmids, pEX-derived plasmids, pBTac-derived plasmids and pUC-derived plasmids for expression in prokaryotic cells, such as E. coli.

The preferred mammalian expression vectors contain both prokaryotic sequences to facilitate the propagation of the vector in bacteria, and one or more eukaryotic transcription units that are expressed in eukaryotic cells. The pcDNAI/amp, pcDNAI/neo, pRc/CMV, pSV2gpt, pSV2neo, pSV2-dhfr, pTk2, pRSVneo, pMSG, pSVT7, pko-neo and pHyg derived vectors are examples of mammalian expression vectors suitable for transfection of eukaryotic cells. Some of these vectors are modified with sequences from bacterial plasmids, such as pBR322, to facilitate replication and drug resistance selection in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Alternatively, derivatives of viruses such as the bovine papilloma virus (BPV-1), or Epstein-Barr virus (pHEBo, pREP-derived and p205) can be used for transient expression of proteins in eukaryotic cells. Examples of other viral (including retroviral) expression systems can be found below in the description of gene therapy delivery systems. The various methods employed in the preparation of the plasmids and transformation of host organisms are well known in the art. For other suitable expression systems for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as general recombinant procedures, see Molecular Cloning A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., ed. by Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989) Chapters 16 and 17. In some instances, it may be desirable to express the recombinant POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide by the use of a baculovirus expression system. Examples of such baculovirus expression systems include pVL-derived vectors (such as pVL1392, pVL1393 and pVL941), pAcUW-derived vectors (such as pAcUW1), and pBlueBac-derived vectors (such as the β-gal containing pBlueBac III).

Alternatively, the coding sequences for the polypeptide can be incorporated as a part of a fusion gene including a nucleotide sequence encoding a different polypeptide. This type of expression system can be useful under conditions where it is desirable, e.g., to produce an immunogenic fragment of a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. For example, the VP6 capsid protein of rotavirus can be used as an immunologic carrier protein for portions of polypeptide, either in the monomeric form or in the form of a viral particle. The nucleic acid sequences corresponding to the portion of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide to which antibodies are to be raised can be incorporated into a fusion gene construct which includes coding sequences for a late vaccinia virus structural protein to produce a set of recombinant viruses expressing fusion proteins comprising a portion of the protein as part of the virion. The Hepatitis B surface antigen can also be utilized in this role as well. Similarly, chimeric constructs coding for fusion proteins containing a portion of a POSH polypeptide and the poliovirus capsid protein can be created to enhance immunogenicity (see, for example, EP Publication NO: 0259149; and Evans et al., (1989) Nature 339:385; Huang et al., (1988) J. Virol. 62:3855; and Schlienger et al., (1992) J. Virol. 66:2).

The Multiple Antigen Peptide system for peptide-based immunization can be utilized, wherein a desired portion of a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide is obtained directly from organo-chemical synthesis of the peptide onto an oligomeric branching lysine core (see, for example, Posnett et al., (1988) JBC 263:1719 and Nardelli et al., (1992) J. Immunol. 148:914). Antigenic determinants of a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide can also be expressed and presented by bacterial cells.

In another embodiment, a fusion gene coding for a purification leader sequence, such as a poly-(His)/enterokinase cleavage site sequence at the N-terminus of the desired portion of the recombinant protein, can allow purification of the expressed fusion protein by affinity chromatography using a Ni²⁺ metal resin. The purification leader sequence can then be subsequently removed by treatment with enterokinase to provide the purified POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide (e.g., see Hochuli et al., (1987) J. Chromatography 411:177; and Janknecht et al., PNAS USA 88:8972).

Techniques for making fusion genes are well known. Essentially, the joining of various DNA fragments coding for different polypeptide sequences is performed in accordance with conventional techniques, employing blunt-ended or stagger-ended termini for ligation, restriction enzyme digestion to provide for appropriate termini, filling-in of cohesive ends as appropriate, alkaline phosphatase treatment to avoid undesirable joining, and enzymatic ligation. In another embodiment, the fusion gene can be synthesized by conventional techniques including automated DNA synthesizers. Alternatively, PCR amplification of gene fragments can be carried out using anchor primers which give rise to complementary overhangs between two consecutive gene fragments which can subsequently be annealed to generate a chimeric gene sequence (see, for example, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, eds. Ausubel et al., John Wiley & Sons: 1992). TABLE 2 Exemplary POSH nucleic acids Accession Sequence Name Organism Number cDNA FLJ11367 fis, clone Homo sapiens AK021429 HEMBA1000303 Plenty of SH3 domains Mus musculus NM_021506 (POSH) mRNA Plenty of SH3s (POSH) Mus musculus AF030131 mRNA Plenty of SH3s (POSH) Drosophila melanogaster NM_079052 mRNA Plenty of SH3s (POSH) Drosophila melanogaster AF220364 mRNA

TABLE 3 Exemplary POSH polypeptides Sequence Name Organism Accession Number SH3 domains- Mus musculus T09071 containing protein POSH plenty of SH3 domains Mus musculus NP_067481 Plenty of SH3s; POSH Mus musculus AAC40070 Plenty of SH3s Drosophila melanogaster AAF37265 LD45365p Drosophila melanogaster AAK93408 POSH gene product Drosophila melanogaster AAF57833 Plenty of SH3s Drosophila melanogaster NP_523776

In addition the following Tables provide the nucleic acid sequence and related SEQ ID NOs for domains of human POSH protein and a summary of POSH sequence identification numbers used in this application. TABLE 4 Nucleic Acid Sequences and related SEQ ID NOs for domains in human POSH SEQ Name of the ID sequence Sequence NO. RING domain TGTCCGGTGTGTCTAGAGCGCCTTGATGCTTCTGCG 31 AAGGTCTTGCCTTGCCAGCATACGTTTTGCAAGCGA TGTTTGCTGGGGATCGTAGGTTCTCGAAATGAACTC AGATGTCCCGAGT 1^(st) SH₃ CCATGTGCCAAAGCGTTATACAACTATGAAGGAAAA 32 domain GAGCCTGGAGACCTTAAATTCAGCAAAGGCGACATC ATCATTTTGCGAAGACAAGTGGATGAAAATTGGTAC CATGGGGAAGTCAATGGAATCCATGGCTTTTTCCCC ACCAACTTTGTGCAGATTATT 2^(nd) SH₃ CCTCAGTGCAAAGCACTTTATGACTTTGAAGTGAAA 33 domain GACAAGGAAGCAGACAAAGATTGCCTTCCATTTGCA AAGGATGATGTTCTGACTGTGATCCGAAGAGTGGAT GAAAACTGGGCTGAAGAATGCTGGCAGACAAAATAG GAATATTTCCAATTTCATATGTTGAGTTTAAC 3^(rd) SH₃ AGTCTCTATGTTGCTATATATCCATACACTCCTCGG 34 domain AAAGAGGATGAACTAGAGCTGAGAAAAGGGGAGATG TTTTTAGTGTTTGAGCGCTGCCAGGATGGCTGGTTC AAAGGGACATCCATGCATACCAGCAAGATAGGGGTT TTCCCTGGCAATTATGTGGCACCAGTC 4^(th) SH₃ GAAAGGCACAGGGTGGTGGTTTCCTATCCTCCTCAG 35 domain AGTGAGGCAGAACTTGAACTTAAAGAAGGAGATATT GTGTTTGTTCATAAAAAACGAGAGGATGGCTGGTTC AAAGGCACATTACAACGTAATGGGAAAACTGGCCTT TTCCCAGGAAGCTTTGTGGAAAACA

TABLE 5 Summary of POSH sequence Identification Numbers Sequence Identification Sequence Information Number (SEQ ID NO) Human POSH Coding Sequence SEQ ID No: 1 Human POSH Amino Acid Sequence SEQ ID No: 2 Human POSH cDNA Sequence SEQ ID No: 3 5′ cDNA Fragment of Human POSH SEQ ID No: 4 N-terminus Protein Fragment of SEQ ID No: 5 Human POSH 3′ mRNA Fragment of Human POSH SEQ ID No: 6 C-terminus Protein Fragment of SEQ ID No: 7 Human POSH Mouse POSH mRNA Sequence SEQ ID No: 8 Mouse POSH Protein Sequence SEQ ID No: 9 Drosophila melanogaster POSH SEQ ID No: 10 mRNA Sequence Drosophila melanogaster POSH SEQ ID No: 11 Protein Sequence Human POSH RING Domain Amino SEQ ID No: 26 Acid Sequence Human POSH 1^(st) SH₃ Domain Amino SEQ ID No: 27 Acid Sequence Human POSH 2^(nd) SH₃ Domain Amino SEQ ID No: 28 Acid Sequence Human POSH 3^(rd) SH₃ Domain Amino SEQ ID No: 29 Acid Sequence Human POSH 4^(th) SH₃ Domain Amino SEQ ID No: 30 Acid Sequence Human POSH RING Domain Nucleic SEQ ID No: 31 Acid Sequence Human POSH 1^(st) SH₃ Domain Nucleic SEQ ID No: 32 Acid Sequence Human POSH 2^(nd) SH₃ Domain Nucleic SEQ ID No: 33 Acid Sequence Human POSH 3^(rd) SH₃ Domain Nucleic SEQ ID No: 34 Acid Sequence Human POSH 4^(th) SH₃ Domain Nucleic SEQ ID No: 35 Acid Sequence 8. Exemplary Polypeptides

In certain aspects, the present application relates to POSH polypeptides, which are isolated from, or otherwise substantially free of, other intracellular proteins which might normally be associated with the protein or a particular complex including the protein. In certain embodiments, POSH polypeptides have an amino acid sequence that is at least 60% identical to an amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID Nos: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. In other embodiments, the polypeptide has an amino acid sequence at least 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to an amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID Nos: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

In certain aspects, the application also relates to POSH-AP polypeptides (e.g., a POSH-AP provided in Table 7). Amino acid sequences of the POSH-APs listed in Table 7 are provided in FIG. 36. Additional POSH-AP polypeptides are provided in Table 8. In certain embodiments, POSH-AP polypeptides have an amino acid sequence that is at least 60% identical to an amino acid sequence as set forth in FIG. 36. In other embodiments, the POSH-AP polypeptide has an amino acid sequence at least 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to an amino acid sequence as set forth in FIG. 36.

Optionally, a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide of the application will function in place of an endogenous POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide, for example by mitigating a partial or complete loss of function phenotype in a cell. For example, a POSH polypeptide of the application may be produced in a cell in which endogenous POSH has been reduced by RNAi, and the introduced POSH polypeptide will mitigate a phenotype resulting from the RNAi. An exemplary POSH loss of function phenotype is a decrease in virus-like particle production in a cell transfected with a viral vector, optionally an HIV vector. In certain embodiments, a POSH polypeptide, when produced at an effective level in a cell, induces apoptosis.

In another aspect, the application provides polypeptides that are agonists or antagonists of a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. Variants and fragments of a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide may have a hyperactive or constitutive activity, or, alternatively, act to prevent POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides from performing one or more functions. For example, a truncated form lacking one or more domain may have a dominant negative effect.

Another aspect of the application relates to polypeptides derived from a full-length POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. Isolated peptidyl portions of the subject proteins can be obtained by screening polypeptides recombinantly produced from the corresponding fragment of the nucleic acid encoding such polypeptides. In addition, fragments can be chemically synthesized using techniques known in the art such as conventional Merrifield solid phase f-Moc or t-Boc chemistry. For example, any one of the subject proteins can be arbitrarily divided into fragments of desired length with no overlap of the fragments, or preferably divided into overlapping fragments of a desired length. The fragments can be produced (recombinantly or by chemical synthesis) and tested to identify those peptidyl fragments which can function as either agonists or antagonists of the formation of a specific protein complex, or more generally of a POSH:POSH-AP complex, such as by microinjection assays.

It is also possible to modify the structure of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides for such purposes as enhancing therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy, or stability (e.g., ex vivo shelf life and resistance to proteolytic degradation in vivo). Such modified polypeptides, when designed to retain at least one activity of the naturally-occurring form of the protein, are considered functional equivalents of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides described in more detail herein. Such modified polypeptides can be produced, for instance, by amino acid substitution, deletion, or addition.

For instance, it is reasonable to expect, for example, that an isolated replacement of a leucine with an isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, a threonine with a serine, or a similar replacement of an amino acid with a structurally related amino acid (i.e., conservative mutations) will not have a major effect on the biological activity of the resulting molecule. Conservative replacements are those that take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their side chains. Genetically encoded amino acids are can be divided into four families (see, for example, Biochemistry, 2nd ed., Ed. by L. Stryer, W.H. Freeman and Co., 1981). Whether a change in the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide results in a functional homolog can be readily determined by assessing the ability of the variant polypeptide to produce a response in cells in a fashion similar to the wild-type protein. For instance, such variant forms of a POSH polypeptide can be assessed, e.g., for their ability to bind to another polypeptide, e.g., another POSH polypeptide or another protein involved in viral maturation. Polypeptides in which more than one replacement has taken place can readily be tested in the same manner.

This application further contemplates a method of generating sets of combinatorial mutants of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides, as well as truncation mutants, and is especially useful for identifying potential variant sequences (e.g., homologs) that are functional in binding to a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. The purpose of screening such combinatorial libraries is to generate, for example, POSH homologs which can act as either agonists or antagonist, or alternatively, which possess novel activities all together. Combinatorially-derived homologs can be generated which have a selective potency relative to a naturally occurring POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide. Such proteins, when expressed from recombinant DNA constructs, can be used in gene therapy protocols.

Likewise, mutagenesis can give rise to homologs which have intracellular half-lives dramatically different than the corresponding wild-type protein. For example, the altered protein can be rendered either more stable or less stable to proteolytic degradation or other cellular process which result in destruction of, or otherwise inactivation of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide of interest. Such homologs, and the genes which encode them, can be utilized to alter POSH or POSH-AP levels by modulating the half-life of the protein. For instance, a short half-life can give rise to more transient biological effects and, when part of an inducible expression system, can allow tighter control of recombinant POSH or POSH-AP levels within the cell. As above, such proteins, and particularly their recombinant nucleic acid constricts, can be used in gene therapy protocols.

In similar fashion, POSH or POSH-AP homologs can be generated by the present combinatorial approach to act as antagonists, in that they are able to interfere with the ability of the corresponding wild-type protein to function.

In a representative embodiment of this method, the amino acid sequences for a population of POSH or POSH-AP homologs are aligned, preferably to promote the highest homology possible. Such a population of variants can include, for example, homologs from one or more species, or homologs from the same species but which differ due to mutation. Amino acids which appear at each position of the aligned sequences are selected to create a degenerate set of combinatorial sequences. In a preferred embodiment, the combinatorial library is produced by way of a degenerate library of genes encoding a library of polypeptides which each include at least a portion of potential POSH or POSH-AP sequences. For instance, a mixture of synthetic oligonucleotides can be enzymatically ligated into gene sequences such that the degenerate set of potential POSH or POSH-AP nucleotide sequences are expressible as individual polypeptides, or alternatively, as a set of larger fusion proteins (e.g., for phage display).

There are many ways by which the library of potential homologs can be generated from a degenerate oligonucleotide sequence. Chemical synthesis of a degenerate gene sequence can be carried out in an automatic DNA synthesizer, and the synthetic genes then be ligated into an appropriate gene for expression. The purpose of a degenerate set of genes is to provide, in one mixture, all of the sequences encoding the desired set of potential POSH or POSH-AP sequences. The synthesis of degenerate oligonucleotides is well known in the art (see for example, Narang, S A (1983) Tetrahedron 39:3; Itakura et al., (1981) Recombinant DNA, Proc. 3rd Cleveland Sympos. Macromolecules, ed. A G Walton, Amsterdam: Elsevier pp273-289; Itakura et al., (1984) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 53:323; Itakura et al., (1984) Science 198:1056; Ike et al., (1983) Nucleic Acid Res. 11:477). Such techniques have been employed in the directed evolution of other proteins (see, for example, Scott et al., (1990) Science 249:386-390; Roberts et al., (1992) PNAS USA 89:2429-2433; Devlin et al., (1990) Science 249: 404-406; Cwirla et al., (1990) PNAS USA 87: 6378-6382; as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,223,409, 5,198,346, and 5,096,815).

Alternatively, other forms of mutagenesis can be utilized to generate a combinatorial library. For example, POSH or POSH-AP homologs (both agonist and antagonist forms) can be generated and isolated from a library by screening using, for example, alanine scanning mutagenesis and the like (Ruf et al., (1994) Biochemistry 33:1565-1572; Wang et al., (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269:3095-3099; Balint et al., (1993) Gene 137:109-118; Grodberg et al., (1993) Eur. J. Biochem. 218:597-601; Nagashima et al., (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268:2888-2892; Lowman et al., (1991) Biochemistry 30:10832-10838; and Cunningham et al., (1989) Science 244:1081-1085), by linker scanning mutagenesis (Gustin et al., (1993) Virology 193:653-660; Brown et al., (1992) Mol. Cell Biol. 12:2644-2652; McKnight et al., (1982) Science 232:316); by saturation mutagenesis (Meyers et al., (1986) Science 232:613); by PCR mutagenesis (Leung et al., (1989) Method Cell Mol Biol 1:11-19); or by random mutagenesis, including chemical mutagenesis, etc. (Miller et al., (1992) A Short Course in Bacterial Genetics, CSHL Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; and Greener et al., (1994) Strategies in Mol Biol 7:32-34). Linker scanning mutagenesis, particularly in a combinatorial setting, is an attractive method for identifying truncated (bioactive) forms of POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides.

A wide range of techniques are known in the art for screening gene products of combinatorial libraries made by point mutations and truncations, and, for that matter, for screening cDNA libraries for gene products having a certain property. Such techniques will be generally adaptable for rapid screening of the gene libraries generated by the combinatorial mutagenesis of POSH or POSH-AP homologs. The most widely used techniques for screening large gene libraries typically comprises cloning the gene library into replicable expression vectors, transforming appropriate cells with the resulting library of vectors, and expressing the combinatorial genes under conditions in which detection of a desired activity facilitates relatively easy isolation of the vector encoding the gene whose product was detected. Each of the illustrative assays described below are amenable to high through-put analysis as necessary to screen large numbers of degenerate sequences created by combinatorial mutagenesis techniques.

In an illustrative embodiment of a screening assay, candidate combinatorial gene products of one of the subject proteins are displayed on the surface of a cell or virus, and the ability of particular cells or viral particles to bind a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide is detected in a “panning assay”. For instance, a library of POSH variants can be cloned into the gene for a surface membrane protein of a bacterial cell (Ladner et al., WO 88/06630; Fuchs et al., (1991) Bio/Technology 9:1370-1371; and Goward et al., (1992) TIBS 18:136-140), and the resulting fusion protein detected by panning, e.g., using a fluorescently labeled molecule which binds the POSH polypeptide, to score for potentially functional homologs. Cells can be visually inspected and separated under a fluorescence microscope, or, where the morphology of the cell permits, separated by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter.

In similar fashion, the gene library can be expressed as a fusion protein on the surface of a viral particle. For instance, in the filamentous phage system, foreign peptide sequences can be expressed on the surface of infectious phage, thereby conferring two significant benefits. First, since these phage can be applied to affinity matrices at very high concentrations, a large number of phage can be screened at one time. Second, since each infectious phage displays the combinatorial gene product on its surface, if a particular phage is recovered from an affinity matrix in low yield, the phage can be amplified by another round of infection. The group of almost identical E. coli filamentous phages M13, fd, and f1 are most often used in phage display libraries, as either of the phage gIII or gVIII coat proteins can be used to generate fusion proteins without disrupting the ultimate packaging of the viral particle (Ladner et al., PCT publication WO 90/02909; Garrard et al., PCT publication WO 92/09690; Marks et al., (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267:16007-16010; Griffiths et al., (1993) EMBO J. 12:725-734; Clackson et al., (1991) Nature 352:624-628; and Barbas et al., (1992) PNAS USA 89:4457-4461).

The application also provides for reduction of the POSH or POSH-AP polypeptides to generate mimetics, e.g., peptide or non-peptide agents, which are able to mimic binding of the authentic protein to another cellular partner. Such mutagenic techniques as described above, as well as the thioredoxin system, are also particularly useful for mapping the determinants of a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide which participate in protein-protein interactions involved in, for example, binding of proteins involved in viral maturation to each other. To illustrate, the critical residues of a POSH or POSH-AP polypeptide which are involved in molecular recognition of a substrate protein can be determined and used to generate its derivative peptidomimetics which bind to the substrate protein, and by inhibiting POSH or POSH-AP binding, act to inhibit its biological activity. By employing, for example, scanning mutagenesis to map the amino acid residues of a POSH polypeptide which are involved in binding to another polypeptide, peptidomimetic compounds can be generated which mimic those residues involved in binding. For instance, non-hydrolyzable peptide analogs of such residues can be generated using benzodiazepine (e.g., see Freidinger et al., in Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, G. R. Marshall ed., ESCOM Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands, 1988), azepine (e.g., see Huffman et al., in Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, G. R. Marshall ed., ESCOM Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands, 1988), substituted gamma lactam rings (Garvey et al., in Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, G. R. Marshall ed., ESCOM Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands, 1988), keto-methylene pseudopeptides (Ewenson et al., (1986) J. Med. Chem. 29:295; and Ewenson et al., in Peptides: Structure and Function (Proceedings of the 9th American Peptide Symposium) Pierce Chemical Co. Rockland, Ill., 1985), b-turn dipeptide cores (Nagai et al., (1985) Tetrahedron Lett 26:647; and Sato et al., (1986) J Chem Soc Perkin Trans 1:1231), and b-aminoalcohols (Gordon et al., (1985) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 126:419; and Dann et al., (1986) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 134:71).

The following table provides the sequences of the RING domain and the various SH3 domains of POSH. TABLE 6 Amino Acid Sequences and related SEQ ID NOs for domains in human POSH Name of SEQ the ID sequence Sequence NO. RING CPVCLERLDASAKVLPCQHTFCKRCLLGIVGSRNELRCP 26 domain EC 1^(st) SH₃ PCAKALYNYEGKEPGDLKFSKGDIIILRRQVDENWYHGE 27 domain VNGIHGFFPTNFVQIIK 2^(nd) SH₃ PQCKALYDFEVKDKEADKDCLPFAKDDVLTVIRRVDENW 28 domain AEGMLADKIGIFPISYVEFNS 3^(rd) SH₃ SVYVAIYPYTPRKEDELELRKGEMFLVFERCQDGWFKGT 29 domain SMHTSKIGVFPGNYVAPVT 4^(th) SH₃ ERHRVVVSYPPQSEAELELKEGDIVFVNKKREDGWFKGT 30 domain LQRNGKTGLFPGSFVENI

The following table provides a list of selected POSH-APs and their related SEQ ID NOs. TABLE 7 Selected POSH APs Protein Sequence mRNA Sequence Protein (SEQ ID NO:) (SEQ ID NO:) ARF1 223 325-339 ARF5 224 340-344 ATP6V0C 225-226 345-351 CBL-B 361; 398; 227-230 353-360 CENTB1 231-232 37-47 DDEF1 233-237 48-54 EIF3S3 238 55-57 EPS8L2 239 58-60 GOCAP1 240-243 61-68 GOSR2 244-248 69-76 HERPUD1 249-252 77-86 HLA-A 253 87-88 HLA-B 254 89 MSTP028 255-256 90-94 PACS-1 362-366  95-100 PPP1CA 261-263; 395 101-110 PRKAR1A 264-265 111-122; 396-397 PTPN12 266-268 123-129 RALA 269-270 130-134 SIAH1 271-272 135-141 SMN1 273-275 142-146 SMN2 276-280 147-151 SNX1 281-286 152-161 SNX3 287-290 162-174 SRA1 291-294 175-182 SYNE1 295-307 183-201 TTC3 308-312 202-207 UBE2N 313 208-210 UNC84B 314 211-213 VCY2IP1 315-323 214-222 SPG20 386-388 367-374 WASF1 389 375-376 HIP55 390-394 377-385

Table 8 below provides a list of POSH-APs that bound POSH in a 2-hybrid assay. Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the POSH-APs listed in Table 8 were filed in a U.S. provisional application filed in the name of Daniel N. Taglicht, Iris Alroy, Yuval Reiss, Liora Yaar, Danny Ben-Avraham, Shmuel Tuvia, and Tsvika Greener entitled “Posh Interacting Proteins and Related Methods”, filed on Mar. 2, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. PROL-P79-024), which Provisional Application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TABLE 8 POSH-APs Protein Sequence mRNA Sequence Protein and Variant (public gi No.) (public gi No.) BCL9 - var 1 4757846 4757845 BRD4 - var 1 19718731 19718730 BRD4 - var 2 7657218 7657217 DRP2 - var 1 4503393 4503392 MAP1A - var 1 21536458 21536457 SH2D2A - var 1 4503633 31543620 BAT3 - var 1 18375630 18375633 BAT3 - var 2 18375634 18375631 BAT3 - var 3 * 18375629 BCAR1 - var 1 7656924 7656923 DAP - var 1 4758120 4758119 EVPL - var 1 4503613 4503612 FLJ13231 - var 1 38604073 38604072 FL53657 - var 1 13376230 13376229 HSPC142 - var 1 7661802 7661801 LOC118987 - var 1 29789403 31341089 NAP4 - var 1 2443367 2443366 RBAF600 - var 1 24416002 24416001 XTP3TPB - var 1 20070264 20070263 Hs.31535 - var 1 37546355 37546354 ASF1B - var 1 8922549 8922548 ATP5A1 - var 1 4757810 23346425 C6 or f1 1- var 1 9954875 39725662 C6 or f60 - var 1 24431997 24431996 CDT1 - var 1 16418337 19923847 CIC - var 1 16507208 16507207 CLK2 - var 1 4557477 4557476 CLK2 - var 2 4502883 4502882 DNM2 - var 1 4826700 4826699 EEF1A1 - var 1 4503471 25453469 EIF4EBP1 - var 1 4758258 20070179 FLJ13479 - var 1 24432013 39725704 GC20 - var 1 5031711 5031710 GLUL - var 1 19923206 21361767 HEBP2 - var 1 7657603 7657602 ITGB- var 1 4504779 4504778 LAMA5 - var 1 21264602 21264601 LOC90987 - var 1 29734345 29734344 MRPL36 - var 1 23111040 20806105 Hs.380933 - var 1 30149441 37550602 NQO2 - var 1 4505417 4505416 PCBP1 - var 1 5453854 14141164 PCNT2 - var 1 22035674 35493922 PGD - var 1 984325 984324 RAP80 - var 1 21361593 21361592 RNH - var 1 21361547 21361546 RPL - var 1 4506597 15431291 RPS20 - var 1 4506697 14591915 RPS27A - var 1 4506713 27436941 SETDB1 - var 1 6912652 6912651 SF3A2 - var 1 21361376 32189413 UBB - var 1 11024714 22538474 ARHV - var 1 20070360 20070359 KIAA1111 - var 1 32698700 32698699 ZNF147 - var 1 4827065 15208652 PAWR - var 1 4505613 4505612 TPX2 - var 1 20127519 31542258 HSPA1B - var 1 4885431 26787974 DLG5 - var 1 3043690 3650451 DLG5 - var 2 28466997 28466996 DLG5 - var 3 3650452 16549841 DLG5 - var 4 * 16807129 DLG5 - var 5 * 22539637 DLG5 - var 6 * 15929207 DLG5 - var 7 * 3043689 KIAA1598 - var 1 7023592 7023591 KIAA1598 - var 2 10047271 7018519 KIAA1598 - var 3 * 21314680 KIAA1598 - var 4 * 10047270 KIAA1598 - var 5 * 21755030 KIAA1598 - var 6 * 21755023 KIAA1598 - var 7 * 21754670 KIAA1598 - var 8 * 21750902 KIAA1598 - var 9 * 21749984 KIAA1598 - var 10 * 21749775 KIAA1598 - var 11 * 21749737 CGI-27 - var 1 7705720 23270696 CGI-27 - var 2 * 22902234 CGI-27 - var 3 * 17046302 CGI-27 - var 4 * 16553689 CGI-27 - var 5 * 10433504 CGI-27 - var 6 * 4680692 CGI-27 - var 7 * 20127543 BIA2 - var 1 5262640 5262639 BIA2 - var 2 21591225 21591224 BIA2 - var 3 * 21755615 COLIA1 - var 1 180392 407589 COLIA1 - var 2 180857 30015 COLIA1 - var 3 1418928 30092 COLIA1 - var 4 22328092 7209641 COLIA1 - var 5 762938 22328091 COLIA1 - var 6 30016 1418927 COLIA1 - var 7 407590 180856 COLIA1 - var 8 * 180391 COLIA1 - var 9 * 14719826 DKFZp761A052 - var 1 10434104 10434103 DKFZp761A052 - var 2 10439058 10439057 DKFZp761A052 - var 3 14602829 14602828 DKFZp761A052 - var 4 20380411 15079884 DKFZp761A052 - var 5 6808165 20380410 DKFZp761A052 - var 6 * 6808164 TLE1 - var 1 14603281 16041735 TLE1 - var 2 307510 14603280 TLE1 - var 3 * 307509 EGLN2 - var 1 8922130 23273571 EGLN2 - var 2 12804603 10437903 EGLN2 - var 3 14547148 21733075 EGLN2 - var 4 18031805 21758140 EGLN2 - var 5 * 18677002 EGLN2 - var 6 * 18031804 EGLN2 - var 7 * 18141576 EGLN2 - var 8 * 14547147 EGLN2 - var 9 * 12804602 EGLN2 - var 10 * 10439822 EGLN2 - var 11 * 8922129 STC2 - var 1 3335144 3335143 STC2 - var 2 * 3702223 STC2 - var 3 * 4050037 STC2 - var 4 * 4104014 STC2 - var 5 * 13623494 STC2 - var 6 * 14042507 STC2 - var 7 * 14042032 STC2 - var 8 * 21755241 STC2 - var 9 * 21755207 STC2 - var 10 * 22761473 STC2 - var 11 * 12653744 OPTN - var 1 20149572 16550123 OPTN - var 2 21619683 3387890 OPTN - var 3 3329431 3127082 OPTN - var 4 3127083 3329430 OPTN - var 5 * 21619682 OPTN - var 6 * 18644681 OPTN - var 7 * 18644683 OPTN - var 8 * 18644685 OPTN - var 9 * 20149571 FLJ37147 - var 1 21753535 21753534 FLJ37147 - var 2 30153743 30153742 KHDRBS1 - var 1 21749696 189499 KHDRBS1 - var 2 1841747 12653852 KHDRBS1 - var 3 189500 17512262 KHDRBS1 - var 4 * 14714433 KHDRBS1 - var 5 * 1841746 KHDRBS1 - var 6 * 21749695 SLC2A1 - var 1 3387905 3387904 SLC2A1 - var 2 5730051 5730050 SLC2A1 - var 3 14268550 14268549 DKFZp434B1231 - var 1 6808117 6808116 NUMA1 - var 1 27694103 5453819 NUMA1 - var 2 35119 13278785 NUMA1 - var 3 14249928 14249927 NUMA1 - var 4 13278786 15991876 NUMA1 - var 5 5453820 296118 NUMA1 - var 6 * 296119 NUMA1 - var 7 * 296120 NUMA1 - var 8 * 35118 NUMA1 - var 9 * 20073234 NUMA1 - var 10 * 22477305 NUMA1 - var 11 * 22749583 NUMA1 - var 12 * 27694102 HSPC016 - var 1 6841310 12654536 HSPC016 - var 2 12654537 6841309 HSPC016 - var 3 * 4679017 HSPC016 - var 4 * 10834763 UBC - var 1 5912028 3360475 UBC - var 2 340058 2647407 UBC - var 3 340068 24657521 UBC - var 4 14286308 21751700 UBC - var 5 15928840 21757163 UBC - var 6 16552475 21758959 UBC - var 7 * 16552474 UBC - var 8 * 15928839 UBC - var 9 * 14286307 UBC - var 10 * 12653358 UBC - var 11 * 10439801 UBC - var 12 * 340067 UBC - var 13 * 340057 UBC - var 14 * 5912027 ZFM1 - var 1 785999 785998 PIASY - var 1 14603164 3643110 PIASY - var 2 5533373 5533372 PIASY - var 3 24850133 10433892 PIASY - var 4 3643111 14603163 PIASY - var 5 * 20987516 PIASY - var 6 * 14709019 XM_208944 - var 1 30153743 30153742 J03930 - var 1 178442 178441 MT2A - var 1 187528 37120 MT2A - var 2 37121 263506 MT2A - var 3 * 13937856 MT2A - var 4 * 1495465 MT2A - var 5 * 187527 EWSR1 - var 1 7669490 21734132 EWSR1 - var 2 12653511 547565 EWSR1 - var 3 15029675 21756356 EWSR1 - var 4 16552153 16551673 EWSR1 - var 5 16551674 16552152 EWSR1 - var 6 31280 15029674 EWSR1 - var 7 * 13435962 EWSR1 - var 8 * 12653510 EWSR1 - var 9 * 10439073 EWSR1 - var 10 * 7669489 MADH6 - var 1 2828712 1654326 MADH6 - var 2 2736316 20379504 MADH6 - var 3 1654327 2736315 MADH6 - var 4 * 2828711 MADH6 - var 5 * 15278059 THOC2 - var 1 20799318 10435649 THOC2 - var 2 10435650 20799317 THOC2 - var 3 * 7023224 ZNF151 - var 1 676873 2230870 ZNF151 - var 2 2230871 676872 DDX31 - var 1 10435700 14042193 DDX31 - var 2 10440004 15215272 DDX31 - var 3 20336298 16566549 DDX31 - var 4 16566550 20336297 DDX31 - var 5 15215273 20336296 DDX31 - var 6 14042194 10440003 DDX31 - var 7 * 10435699 POLR2J2 - var 1 11595478 21704271 POLR2J2 - var 2 21704274 21704270 POLR2J2 - var 3 19401711 19401710 POLR2J2 - var 4 14702175 21704273 POLR2J2 - var 5 21704272 16878085 POLR2J2 - var 6 * 11595475 POLR2J2 - var 7 * 11595477 POLR2J2 - var 8 * 11595473 BANF1 - var 1 3002951 11038645 BANF1 - var 2 4502389 13543576 BANF1 - var 3 * 14713907 BANF1 - var 4 * 3002950 BANF1 - var 5 * 4321975 BANF1 - var 6 * 3220254 CBX4 - var 1 1945453 1945452 CBX4 - var 2 15929016 2317722 CBX4 - var 3 2317723 15929015 ARIH2 - var 1 3925604 3925603 ARIH2 - var 2 9963793 3930777 ARIH2 - var 3 12653307 3986675 ARIH2 - var 4 * 3986676 ARIH2 - var 5 * 3986677 ARIH2 - var 6 * 7328049 ARIH2 - var 7 * 6855602 ARIH2 - var 8 * 21749565 ARIH2 - var 9 * 33875424 ARIH2 - var 10 * 9963792 ARIH2 - var 11 * 5453556 ARIH2 - var 12 * 5817100 ARIH2 - var 13 * 3930775 SRPK2 - var 1 1857944 21752284 SRPK2 - var 2 23270876 21749007 SRPK2 - var 3 * 23270875 SRPK2 - var 4 * 1857943 SIAH2 - var 1 2673968 16549991 SIAH2 - var 2 2664283 34189635 SIAH2 - var 3 * 2664282 SIAH2 - var 4 * 2673967 KIAA0191 - var 1 27480017 29387261 KIAA0191 - var 2 1228035 10438300 KIAA0191 - var 3 29387262 1228034 KIAA0191 - var 4 * 21755057 KIAA0191 - var 5 * 27480016 KIAA0191 - var 6 * 19387907 KIAA0191 - var 7 * 15636651 KIAA0191 - var 8 * 23273514 PA1-RBP1 - var 1 5262551 22760761 PA1-RBP1 - var 2 4929579 20072477 PA1-RBP1 - var 3 12804377 17939456 PA1-RBP1 - var 4 12803339 18088243 PA1-RBP1 - var 5 14029171 16924316 PA1-RBP1 - var 6 18088244 33872286 PA1-RBP1 - var 7 22760762 14029170 PA1-RBP1 - var 8 * 33876749 PA1-RBP1 - var 9 * 12804376 PA1-RBP1 - var 10 * 4929578 PA1-RBP1 - var 11 * 4406639 PA1-RBP1 - var 12 * 5262550 FAT - var 1 2281025 1107686 FAT - var 2 1107687 15214611 FAT - var 3 * 2281024 FAT - var 4 * 598748 VCL - var 1 24657579 7669551 VCL - var 2 340237 7669549 VCL - var 3 7669550 340236 VCL - var 4 * 21732673 VCL - var 5 * 15426616 VCL - var 6 * 246657578 SSR4 - var 1 15929882 30583222 SSR4 - var 2 13097213 1071680 SSR4 - var 3 * 22749791 SSR4 - var 4 * 21753447 SSR4 - var 5 * 16552704 SSR4 - var 6 * 15929881 SSR4 - var 7 * 13097212 SSR4 - var 8 * 2398656 PRDX5 - var 1 6166493 27484966 PRDX5 - var 2 6746355 9802047 PRDX5 - var 3 9802048 8745393 PRDX5 - var 4 27484967 6746354 PRDX5 - var 5 * 6563211 PRDX5 - var 6 * 6103723 PRDX5 - var 7 * 6166492 PRDX5 - var 8 * 6523288 PRDX5 - var 9 * 32455258 FLJ10120 - var 1 8922239 27469671 FLJ10120 - var 2 * 8922238 PROL4 - var 1 22208536 22208535 PROL4 - var 2 6005802 1050982 CL25084 - var 1 15341891 4406555 CL25084 - var 2 7023472 4406692 CL25084 - var 3 4406693 7023471 CL25084 - var 4 4406556 15341890 C11orf17 - var 1 22761313 21361869 C11orf17 - var 2 21105773 20149226 C11orf17 - var 3 20149225 20149224 C11orf17 - var 4 20149227 21105772 C11orf17 - var 5 21361870 21410957 C11orf17 - var 6 * 22761312 POLQ - var 1 3510695 13892060 POLQ - var 2 4163931 13892060 POLQ - var 3 13892061 4163930 POLQ - var 4 * 3510694 MBD2 - var 1 3170202 3800812 MBD2 - var 2 3800801 5817231 MBD2 - var 3 7710145 21595775 MBD2 - var 4 21595776 21464120 MBD2 - var 5 * 21464121 MBD2 - var 6 * 3800800 MBD2 - var 7 * 3800792 MBD2 - var 8 * 3170201 FSTL1 - var 1 12658309 536897 FSTL1 - var 2 12652619 16924272 FSTL1 - var 3 * 33990756 FSTL1 - var 4 * 12658308 FSTL1 - var 5 * 10438502 FSTL1 - var 6 * 4884472 * denotes a polypeptide sequence that can be deduced from the corresponding mRNA sequence. 9. Effective Dose

Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of such compounds can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., for determining The LD₅₀ (the dose lethal to 50% of the population) and the ED₅₀ (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratio LD₅₀/ED₅₀. Compounds which exhibit large therapeutic induces are preferred. While compounds that exhibit toxic side effects may be used, care should be taken to design a delivery system that targets such compounds to the site of affected tissue in order to minimize potential damage to uninfected cells and, thereby, reduce side effects.

The data obtained from the cell culture assays and animal studies can be used in formulating a range of dosage for use in humans. The dosage of such compounds lies preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED₅₀ with little or no toxicity. The dosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage form employed and the route of administration utilized. For any compound used in the method of the application, the therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially from cell culture assays. A dose may be formulated in animal models to achieve a circulating plasma concentration range that includes the IC₅₀ (i.e., the concentration of the test compound which achieves a half-maximal inhibition of symptoms) as determined in cell culture. Such information can be used to more accurately determine useful doses in humans. Levels in plasma may be measured, for example, by high performance liquid chromatography.

10. Formulation and Use

Pharmaceutical compositions for use in accordance with the present application may be formulated in conventional manner using one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients. Thus, the compounds and their physiologically acceptable salts and solvates may be formulated for administration by, for example, injection, inhalation or insufflation (either through the mouth or the nose) or oral, buccal, parenteral or rectal administration.

An exemplary composition of the application comprises an RNAi mixed with a delivery system, such as a liposome system, and optionally including an acceptable excipient. In a preferred embodiment, the composition is formulated for topical administration for, e.g., herpes virus infections.

For such therapy, the compounds of the application can be formulated for a variety of loads of administration, including systemic and topical or localized administration. Techniques and formulations generally may be found in Remmington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Meade Publishing Co., Easton, Pa. For systemic administration, injection is preferred, including intramuscular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous. For injection, the compounds of the application can be formulated in liquid solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hank's solution or Ringer's solution. In addition, the compounds may be formulated in solid form and redissolved or suspended immediately prior to use. Lyophilized forms are also included.

For oral administration, the pharmaceutical compositions may take the form of, for example, tablets or capsules prepared by conventional means with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as binding agents (e.g., pregelatinised maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose); fillers (e.g., lactose, microcrystalline cellulose or calcium hydrogen phosphate); lubricants (e.g., magnesium stearate, talc or silica); disintegrants (e.g., potato starch or sodium starch glycolate); or wetting agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulphate). The tablets may be coated by methods well known in the art. Liquid preparations for oral administration may take the form of, for example, solutions, syrups or suspensions, or they may be presented as a dry product for constitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use. Such liquid preparations may be prepared by conventional means with pharmaceutically acceptable additives such as suspending agents (e.g., sorbitol syrup, cellulose derivatives or hydrogenated edible fats); emulsifying agents (e.g., lecithin or acacia); non-aqueous vehicles (e.g., ationd oil, oily esters, ethyl alcohol or fractionated vegetable oils); and preservatives (e.g., methyl or propyl-p-hydroxybenzoates or sorbic acid). The preparations may also contain buffer salts, flavoring, coloring and sweetening agents as appropriate.

Preparations for oral administration may be suitably formulated to give controlled release of the active compound. For buccal administration the compositions may take the form of tablets or lozenges formulated in conventional manner. For administration by inhalation, the compounds for use according to the present application are conveniently delivered in the form of an aerosol spray presentation from pressurized packs or a nebuliser, with the use of a suitable propellant, e.g., dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide or other suitable gas. In the case of a pressurized aerosol the dosage unit may be determined by providing a valve to deliver a metered amount. Capsules and cartridges of e.g., gelatin for use in an inhaler or insufflator may be formulated containing a powder mix of the compound and a suitable powder base such as lactose or starch.

The compounds may be formulated for parenteral administration by injection, e.g., by bolus injection or continuous infusion. Formulations for injection may be presented in unit dosage form, e.g., in ampoules or in multi-dose containers, with an added preservative. The compositions may take such forms as suspensions, solutions or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, and may contain formulatory agents such as suspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively, the active ingredient may be in powder form for constitution with a suitable vehicle, e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water, before use.

The compounds may also be formulated in rectal compositions such as suppositories or retention enemas, e.g., containing conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter or other glycerides.

In addition to the formulations described previously, the compounds may also be formulated as a depot preparation. Such long acting formulations may be administered by implantation (for example subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or by intramuscular injection. Thus, for example, the compounds may be formulated with suitable polymeric or hydrophobic materials (for example as an emulsion in an acceptable oil) or ion exchange resins, or as sparingly soluble derivatives, for example, as a sparingly soluble salt.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermal means. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration bile salts and fusidic acid derivatives. in addition, detergents may be used to facilitate permeation. Transmucosal administration may be through nasal sprays or using suppositories. For topical administration, the oligomers of the application are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art. A wash solution can be used locally to treat an injury or inflammation to accelerate healing.

The compositions may, if desired, be presented in a pack or dispenser device which may contain one or more unit dosage forms containing the active ingredient. The pack may for example comprise metal or plastic foil, such as a blister pack. The pack or dispenser device may be accompanied by instructions for administration.

For therapies involving the administration of nucleic acids, the oligomers of the application can be formulated for a variety of modes of administration, including systemic and topical or localized administration. Techniques and formulations generally may be found in Remmington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Meade Publishing Co., Easton, Pa. For systemic administration, injection is preferred, including intramuscular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intranodal, and subcutaneous for injection, the oligomers of the application can be formulated in liquid solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hank's solution or Ringer's solution. In addition, the oligomers may be formulated in solid form and redissolved or suspended immediately prior to use. Lyophilized forms are also included.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermal means, or the compounds can be administered orally. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration bile salts and fusidic acid derivatives. In addition, detergents may be used to facilitate permeation. Transmucosal administration may be through nasal sprays or using suppositories. For oral administration, the oligomers are formulated into conventional oral administration forms such as capsules, tablets, and tonics. For topical administration, the oligomers of the application are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

The application now being generally described, it will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are included merely for purposes of illustration of certain aspects and embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the application.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Role of POSH in Virus-Like Particle (VLP) Budding

1. Objective:

Use RNAi to inhibit POSH gene expression and compare the efficiency of viral budding and GAG expression and processing in treated and untreated cells.

2. Study Plan:

HeLa SS-6 cells are transfected with mRNA-specific RNAi in order to knockdown the target proteins. Since maximal reduction of target protein by RNAi is achieved after 48 hours, cells are transfected twice—first to reduce target mRNAs, and subsequently to express the viral Gag protein. The second transfection is performed with pNLenv (plasmid that encodes HIV) and with low amounts of RNAi to maintain the knockdown of target protein during the time of gag expression and budding of VLPs. Reduction in mRNA levels due to RNAi effect is verified by RT-PCR amplification of target mRNA.

3. Methods, Materials, Solutions

a. Methods

-   -   i. Transfections according to manufacturer's protocol and as         described in procedure.     -   ii. Protein determined by Bradford assay.     -   iii. SDS-PAGE in Hoeffer miniVE electrophoresis system. Transfer         in Bio-Rad mini-protean II wet transfer system. Blots visualized         using Typhoon system, and ImageQuant software (ABbiotech)

b. Materials Material Manufacturer Catalog # Batch # Lipofectamine 2000 Life Technologies 11668-019 1112496 (LF2000) OptiMEM Life Technologies 31985-047 3063119 RNAi Lamin A/C Self 13 RNAi TSG101 688 Self 65 RNAi Posh 524 Self 81 plenvl1 PTAP Self 148 plenvl1 ATAP Self 149 Anti-p24 polyclonal Seramun A-0236/5- antibody 10-01 Anti-Rabbit Cy5 Jackson 144-175-115  48715 conjugated antibody 10% acrylamide Tris- Life Technologies NP0321 1081371 Glycine SDS-PAGE gel Nitrocellulose Schleicher & 401353 BA-83 membrane Schuell NuPAGE 20× transfer Life Technologies NP0006-1  224365 buffer 0.45 μm filter Schleicher & 10462100 CS1018-1 Schuell

c. Solutions Compound Concentration Lysis Buffer Tris-HCl pH 7.6 50 mM MgCl₂ 15 mM NaCl 150 mM Glycerol 10% EDTA 1 mM EGTA 1 mM ASB-14 (add immediately 1% before use) 6X Sample Tris-HCl, pH = 6.8 1M Buffer Glycerol 30% SDS 10% DTT 9.3% Bromophenol Blue 0.012% TBS-T Tris pH = 7.6 20 mM NaCl 137 mM Tween-20 0.1% 4. Procedure

a. Schedule Day 1 2 3 4 5 Plate Transfection I Passage Transfection II Extract RNA cells (RNAi only) cells (RNAi and for RT-PCR (1:3) pNlenv) (post (12:00, PM) transfection) Extract RNA for Harvest VLPs RT-PCR and cells (pre-transfection)

b. Day 1

Plate HeLa SS-6 cells in 6-well plates (35 mm wells) at concentration of 5×10⁵ cells/well.

c. Day 2

2 hours before transfection replace growth medium with 2 ml growth medium without antibiotics.

Transfection I: RNAi A B [20 μM] OPtiMEM LF2000 mix Reaction RNAi name TAGDA# Reactions RNAi [nM] μl (μl) (μl) 1 Lamin A/C 13 2 50 12.5 500 500 2 Lamin A/C 13 1 50 6.25 250 250 3 TSG101 688 65 2 20 5 500 500 5 Posh 524 81 2 50 12.5 500 500

Transfections:

-   -   Prepare LF2000 mix: 250 μl OptiMEM+5 μl LF2000 for each         reaction. Mix by inversion, 5 times. Incubate 5 minutes at room         temperature.     -   Prepare RNA dilution in OptiMEM (Table 1, column A). Add LF2000         mix dropwise to diluted RNA (Table 1, column B). Mix by gentle         vortex. Incubate at room temperature 25 minutes, covered with         aluminum foil.     -   Add 500 μl transfection mixture to cells dropwise and mix by         rocking side to side.     -   Incubate overnight.

d. Day 3

-   -   Split 1:3 after 24 hours. (Plate 4 wells for each reaction,         except reaction 2 which is plated into 3 wells.)

e. Day 4

2 hours pre-transfection replace medium with DMEM growth medium without antibiotics.

Transfection II B A RNAi Plasmid [20 μM] for C D RNAi TAG for 2.4 μg 10 nM OPtiMEM LF2000 mix name DA# Plasmid Reaction # (μl) (μl) (μl) (μl) Lamin 13 PTAP 3 3.4 3.75 750 750 A/C Lamin 13 ATAP 3 2.5 3.75 750 750 A/C TSG101 65 PTAP 3 3.4 3.75 750 750 688 Posh 524 81 PTAP 3 3.4 3.75 750 750

-   -   Prepare LF2000 mix: 250 μl OptiMEM+5 μl LF2000 for each         reaction. Mix by inversion, 5 times. Incubate 5 minutes at room         temperature.     -   Prepare RNA+DNA diluted in OptiMEM (Transfection II, A+B+C)     -   Add LF2000 mix (Transfection II, D) to diluted RNA+DNA dropwise,         mix by gentle vortex, and incubate 1 h while protected from         light with aluminum foil.     -   Add LF2000 and DNA+RNA to cells, 500 μl/well, mix by gentle         rocking and incubate overnight.

f. Day 5

-   -   Collect samples for VLP assay (approximately 24 hours         post-transfection) by the following procedure (cells from one         well from each sample is taken for RNA assay, by RT-PCR).

g. Cell Extracts

-   -   i. Pellet floating cells by centrifugation (5 min, 3000 rpm at         4° C.), save supernatant (continue with supernatant immediately         to step h), scrape remaining cells in the medium which remains         in the well, add to the corresponding floating cell pellet and         centrifuge for 5 minutes, 1800 rpm at 4° C.     -   ii. Wash cell pellet twice with ice-cold PBS.     -   iii. Resuspend cell pellet in 100 μl lysis buffer and incubate         20 minutes on ice.     -   iv. Centrifuge at 14,000 rpm for 15 min. Transfer supernatant to         a clean tube. This is the cell extract.     -   v. Prepare 10 μl of cell extract samples for SDS-PAGE by adding         SDS-PAGE sample buffer to 1×, and boiling for 10 minutes. Remove         an aliquot of the remaining sample for protein determination to         verify total initial starting material. Save remaining cell         extract at −80° C.

h. Purification of VLPs from Cell Media

-   -   i. Filter the supernatant from step g through a 0.45 m filter.     -   ii. Centrifuge supernatant at 14,000 rpm at 4° C. for at least 2         h.     -   iii. Aspirate supernatant carefully.     -   iv. Re-suspend VLP pellet in hot (100° C. warmed for 10 min at         least) 1× sample buffer.     -   v. Boil samples for 10 minutes, 100° C.

i. Western Blot Analysis

-   -   i. Run all samples from stages A and B on Tris-Glycine SDS-PAGE         10% (120V for 1.5 h).     -   ii. Transfer samples to nitrocellulose membrane (65V for 1.5 h).     -   iii. Stain membrane with ponceau S solution.     -   iv. Block with 10% low fat milk in TBS-T for 1 h.     -   v. Incubate with anti p24 rabbit 1:500 in TBS-T o/n.     -   vi. Wash 3 times with TBS-T for 7 min each wash.     -   vii. Incubate with secondary antibody anti rabbit cy5 1:500 for         30 min.     -   viii. Wash five times for 10 min in TBS-T.     -   ix. View in Typhoon gel imaging system (Molecular         Dynamics/APBiotech) for fluorescence signal.         Results are shown in FIGS. 11-13.

Example 2 Exemplary POSH RT-PCR Primers and siRNA Duplexes

RT-PCR Primers Name Position Sequence Sense POSH = 271 271 5′ CTTGCCTTGCCAGCATAC 3′ primer (SEQ ID NO:12) Anti- POSH = 926c 926C 5′ CTGCCAGCATTCCTTCAG 3′ sense (SEQ ID NO:13) primer

siRNA Duplexes: siRNA No: 153 siRNA Name: POSH-230 Position in mRNA 426-446 Target sequence: 5′ AACAGAGGCCTTGGAAACCTG 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA sense strand: 5′ dTdTCAGAGGCCUUGGAAACCUG 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA anti-sense strand: 5′ dTdTCAGGUUUCCAAGGCCUCUG 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA No: 155 siRNA Name: POSH-442 Position in mRNA 638-658 Target sequence: 5′ AAAGAGCCTGGAGACCTTAAA 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA sense strand: 5′ ddTdTAGAGCCUGGAGACCUUAAA 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA anti-sense strand: 5′ ddTdTUUUAAGGUCUCCAGGCUCU 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA No: 157 siRNA Name: POSH-U111 Position in mRNA 2973-2993 Target sequence: 5′ AAGGATTGGTATGTGACTCTG 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA sense strand: 5′ dTdTGGAUUGGUAUGUGACUCUG 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA anti-sense strand: 5′ dTdTCAGAGUCACAUACCAAUCC 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA No: 159 siRNA Name: POSH-U410 Position in mRNA 3272-3292 Target sequence: 5′ AAGCTGGATTATCTCCTGTTG 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA sense strand: 5′ ddTdTGCUGGAUUA UCUCCUGUUG 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA anti-sense strand: 5′ ddTdTCAACAGGAG AUAAUCCAGC 3′ SEQ ID NO: siRNA No.: 187 siRNA Name: POSH-control Position in mRNA: None. Reverse to #153 Target sequence: 5′ AAGTCCAAAGGTTCCGGAGAC 3′ SEQ ID NO:36 3. Knock-Down of hPOSH Entraps HIV Virus Particles in Intracellular Vesicles.

HIV virus release was analyzed by electron microscopy following siRNA and full-length HIV plasmid (missing the envelope coding region) transfection. Mature viruses were secreted by cells transfected with HIV plasmid and non-relevant siRNA (control, lower panel). Knockdown of Tsg101 protein resulted in a budding defect, the viruses that were released had an immature phenotype (upper panel). Knockdown of hPOSH levels resulted in accumulation of viruses inside the cell in intracellular vesicles (middle panel). Results, shown in FIG. 28, indicate that inhibiting hPOSH entraps HIV virus particles in intracellular vesicles. As accumulation of HIV virus particles in the cells accelerate cell death, inhibition of hPOSH therefore destroys HIV reservoir by killing cells infected with HIV.

Example 4 In-Vitro Assay of Human POSH Self-Ubiquitination

Recombinant hPOSH was incubated with ATP in the presence of E1, E2 and ubiquitin as indicated in each lane. Following incubation at 37° C. for 30 minutes, reactions were terminated by addition of SDS-PAGE sample buffer. The samples were subsequently resolved on a 10% polyacrylamide gel. The separated samples were then transferred to nitrocellulose and subjected to immunoblot analysis with an anti ubiquitin polyclonal antibody. The position of migration of molecular weight markers is indicated on the right.

Poly-Ub: Ub-hPOSHconjugates, detected as high molecular weight adducts only in reactions containing E1, E2 and ubiquitin. hPOSH-176 and hPOSH-178 are a short and a longer derivatives (respectively) of bacterially expressed hPOSH, C, control E3.

Preliminary steps in a high-throughput screen

Materials

1. E1 recombinant from bacculovirus

2. E2 Ubch5c from bacteria

3. Ubiquitin

4. POSH #178 (1-361) GST fusion-purified but degraded

5. POSH # 176 (1-269) GST fusion-purified but degraded

6. hsHRD1 soluble ring containing region

5. Buffer×12 (Tris 7.6 40 mM, DTT 1 mM, MgCl₂ 5 mM, ATP 2 uM)

6. Dilution buffer (Tris 7.6 40 mM, DTT 1 mM, ovalbumin 1 ug/ul) protocol 0.1 ug/ul 0.5 ug/ul 5 ug/ul 0.4 ug/ul 2.5 ug/u/ 0.8 ug/ul E1 E2 Ub 176 178 Hrd1 Bx12 -E1 (E2 + 176) — 0.5 0.5 1 — — 10 -E2 (E1 + 176) 1 — 0.5 1 — — 9.5 -ub (E1 + E2 + 176) 1 0.5 — 1 — — 9.5 E1 + E2 + 176 + Ub 1 0.5 0.5 1 — 9 -E1 (E2 + 178) — 0.5 0.5 — 1 — 10 -E2 (E1 + 178) 1 — 0.5 — 1 — 9.5 -ub (E1 + E2 + 178) 1 0.5 — — 1 — 9.5 E1 + E2 + 178 + Ub 1 0.5 0.5 — 1 —1 9 Hrd1, E1 + E2 + Ub 1 0.5 0.5 — — 1 8.5 * 1. Incubate for 30 minutes at 37° C. 2. Run 12% SDS PAGE gel and transfer to nitrocellulose membrane 3. Incubate with anti-Ubiquitin antibody.

Results, shown in FIG. 19, demonstrate that human POSH has ubiquitin ligase activity.

Example 5 Co-Immunoprecipitation of hPOSH with myc-Tagged Activated (V12) and Dominant-Negative (N17) Rac1

HeLa cells were transfected with combinations of myc-Rac1 V12 or N17 and hPOSHdelRING-V5. 24 hours after transfection (efficiency 80% as measured by GFP) cells were collected, washed with PBS, and swollen in hypotonic lysis buffer (10 mM HEPES pH=7.9, 15 mM KCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, 2 mM MgCl2, 1 mM DTT, and protease inhibitors). Cells were lysed by 10 strokes with dounce homogenizer and centrifuged 3000×g for 10 minutes to give supernatant (Fraction 1) and nucleii. Nucleii were washed with Fraction 2 buffer (0.2% NP-40, 10 mM HEPES pH=7.9, 40 mM KCl, 5% glycerol) to remove peripheral proteins. Nucleii were spun-down and supernatant collected (Fraction 2). Nuclear proteins were eluted in Fraction 3 buffer (20 mM HEPES pH=7.9, 0.42 M KCl, 25% glycerol, 0.1 mM EDTA, 2 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM DTT) by rotating 30 minutes in cold. Insoluble proteins were spun-down 14000×g and solubilized in Fraction 4 buffer (1% Fos-Choline 14, 50 mM HEPES pH=7.9, 150 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 1 mM EDTA, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 2 mM DTT). Half of the total extract was pre-cleared against Protein A sepharose for 1.5 hours and used for IP with 1 μg anti-myc (9E10, Roche 1-667-149) and Protein A sepharose for 2 hours. Immune complexes were washed extensively, and eluted in SDS-PAGE sample buffer. Gels were run, and proteins electro-transferred to nitrocellulose for immunoblot as in FIG. 20. Endogenous POSH and transfected hPOSHdelRING-V5 are precipitated as a complex with Myc-Rac1 V12/N17. Results, shown in FIG. 20, demonstrate that POSH co-immunoprecipitates with Rac1.

Example 6 POSH Reduction Results in Decreased Secretion of Phospholipase D (PLD)

Hela SS6 cells (two wells of 6-well plate) were transfected with POSH siRNA or control siRNA (100 nM). 24 hours later each well was split into 5 wells of a 24-well plate. The next day cells were transfected again with 100 nM of either POSH siRNA or control siRNA. The next day cells were washed three times with 1×PBS and than 0.5 ml of PLD incubation buffer (118 mM NaCl, 6 mM KCl, 1 mM CaCl₂, 1.2 mM MgSO4, 12.4 mM HEPES, pH7.5 and 1% fatty acid free bovine serum albumin) were added.

48 hours later medium was collected and centrifuged at 800×g for 15 minutes. The medium was diluted with 5×PLD reaction buffer (Amplex red PLD kit) and assayed for PLD by using the Amplex Red PLD kit (Molecular probes, A-12219). The assay results were quantified and presented below in as a bar graph. The cells were collected and lysed in 1% Triton X-100 lysis buffer (20 mM HEPES-NaOH, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM EDTA, 1% Triton X-100 and 1× protease inhibitors) for 15 minutes on ice. Lysates were cleared by centrifugation and protein concentration was determined. There were equal protein concentrations between the two transfectants. Equal amount of extracts were immunoprecipitated with anti-POSH antibodies, separated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with anti-POSH antibodies to assess the reduction of POSH levels. There was approximately 40% reduction in POSH levels (FIG. 21).

Example 7 Effect of hPOSH on Gaz-EGFP Intracellular Distribution

HeLa SS6 were transfected with Gag-EGFP, 24 hours after an initial transfection with either hPOSH-specific or scrambled siRNA (control) (100 nM) or with plasmids encoding either wild type hPOSH or hPOSH C(12, 55)A. Fixation and staining was preformed 5 hours after Gag-EGFP transfection. Cells were fixed, stained with Alexa fluor 647-conjugated Concanavalin A (ConA) (Molecular Probes), permeabilized and then stained with sheep anti-human TGN46. After the primary antibody incubation cells were incubated with Rhodamin-conjugated goat anti-sheep. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was performed on LSM510 confocal microscope (Zeiss) equipped with Axiovert 100M inverted microscope using ×40 magnification and 1.3-numerical-aperture oil-immersion lens for imaging. For co-localization experiments, 10 optical horizontal sections with intervals of 1 μm were taken through each preparation (Z-stack). A single median section of each preparation is shown. See FIG. 22.

Example 8 POSH-Regulated Intracellular Transport of Myristoylated Proteins

The localization of myristoylated proteins, Gag (see FIG. 22), HIV-1 Nef, Src and Rapsyn, in cells depleted of hPOSH were analyzed by immunofluorescence. In control cells, HIV-1 Nef was found in a perinuclear region co-localized with hPOSH, indicative of a TGN localization (FIG. 23). When hPOSH expression was reduced by siRNA treatment, Nef expression was weaker relative to control and nef lost its TGN, perinuclear localization. Instead it accumulated in punctated intracellular loci segregated from the TGN.

Src is expressed at the plasma membrane and in intracellular vesicles, which are found close to the plasma membrane (FIG. 24, H187 cells). However, when hPOSH levels were reduced, Src was dispersed in the cytoplasm and loses its plasma membrane proximal localization detected in control (H187) cells (FIG. 24, compare H153-1 and H187-2 panels).

Rapsyn, a peripheral membrane protein expressed in skeletal muscle, plays a critical role in organizing the structure of the nicotinic postsynaptic membrane (Sanes and Lichtman, Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 22: 389-442 (1999)). Newly synthesized Rapsyn associates with the TGN and than transported to the plasma membrane (Marchand et al., J. Neurosci. 22: 8891-01 (2002)). In hPOSH-depleted cells (H153-1) Rapsyn was dispersed in the cytoplasm, while in control cells it had a punctuated pattern and plasma membrane localization, indicating that hPOSH influences its intracellular transport (FIG. 25).

Materials and Methods Used:

Antibodies:

Src antibody was purchased from Oncogene research products (Darmstadt, Germany). Nef antibodies were pusrchased from ABI (Columbia, Mass.) and Fitzgerald Industries Interantional (Concord, Mass.). Alexa Fluor conjugated antibodies were pusrchased from Molecular Probes Inc. (Eugene, Oreg.).

hPOSH antibody: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion plasmids were constructed by PCR amplification of hPOSH codons 285-430. The amplified PCR products was cloned into pGEX-6P-2 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Buckinghamshire, UK). The truncated hPOSH protein was generated in E. coli BL21. Bacterial cultures were grown in LB media with carbenicillin (100 μg/ml) and recombinant protein production was induced with 1 mM IPTG for 4 hours at 30° C. Cells were lysed by sonication and the recombinant protein was then isolated from the cleared bacterial lysate by affinity chromatography on a glutathione-sepharose resin (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Buckinghamshire, UK). The hPOSH portion of the fusion protein was then released by incubation with PreScission protease (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Buckinghamshire, UK) according to the manufacturer's instructions and the GST portion was then removed by a second glutathione-sepharose affinity chromatography. The purified partial hPOSH polypeptide was used to immunize New Zealand white rabbits to generate antibody 15B (Washington Biotechnology, Baltimore, Md.).

Construction of siRNA Retroviral Vectors:

hPOSH scrambled oligonucleotide (5′-CACACACTGCCG TCAACT GTTCAAGAGAC AGTTGACGGCAGTGTGTGTTTTTT-3′; and 5′-AATTAAAAAACACA CACTGCCGTCAACTGTC TCTTGAACAGTTGA CGGCAGTGTGTGGGCC-3′) were annealed and cloned into the ApaI-EcoRI digested pSilencer 1.0-US (Ambion) to generate pSIL-scrambled. Subsequently, the U6-promoter and RNAi sequences were digested with BamHI, the ends filled in and the insert cloned into the Olil site in the retroviral vector, pMSVhyg (Clontech), generating pMSCVhyg-U6-scrambled. hPOSH oligonucleotide encoding RNAi against hPOSH (5′-AACAGAGGCCTTGGAAA CCTGGAAGC TTGCAGGTTT CCAAGGCCTCTGTT-3′; and 5′-GATCAACAGAG GCCTTGGAAACCTGC AAGCTTCCAGGTTTCCAA GGCCTCTGTT-3′) were annealed and cloned into the BamHI-EcoRI site of pLIT-U6, generating pLIT-U6 hPOSH-230. pLIT-U6 is an shRNA vector containing the human U6 promoter (amplified by PCR from human genomic DNA with the primers, 5′-GGCCCACTAGTCA AGGTCG GGCA GGAAGA-3′ and 5′-GCCGAATT CAAAAAGGATC CGGCGATATCCGG TGTTTCGTCCTTTCCA-3′) cloned into pLITMUS38 (New England Biolabs) digested with SpeI-EcoRI. Subsequently, the U6 promoter-hPOSH shRNA (pLIT-U6 hPOSH-230 digested with SnaBI and PvuI) was cloned into the Olil site of pMSVhyg (Clontech), generating pMSCVhyg U6-hPOSH-230.

Generation of Stable Clones:

HEK 293T cells were transfected with retroviral RNAi plasmids (pMSCVhyg-U6-POSH-230 and pMSCVhyg-U6-scrambled and with plasmids encoding VSV-G and moloney gag-pol. Two days post transfection, medium containing retroviruses was collected and filtered and polybrene was added to a final concentration of 8 μg/ml. This was used to infect HeLa SS6 cells grown in 60 mm dishes. Forty-eight hours post-infection cells were selected for RNAi expression by the addition of hygromycin to a final concentration of 300 μg/ml. Clones expressing RNAi against hPOSH were named H153, clones expressing scrambled RNAi were named H187.

Transfection and Immunofluorescent Analysis:

Gag-EGFP experiments are described in FIG. 22.

H153 or H187 cells were transfected with Src or Rapsyn-GFP (Image clone image: 3530551 or pNLenv-1). Eighteen hours post transfection cells were washed with PBS and incubated on ice with Alexa Fluor 647 conjugated Con A to label plasma membrane glycoproteins. Subsequently cells were fixed in 3% paraformaldehyde, blocked with PBS containing 4% bovine serum albumin and 1% gelatin. Staining with rabbit anti-Src, rabbit anti-hPOSH (15B) or mouse anti-nef was followed with secondary antibodies as indicated.

Laser scanning confocal microscopy was performed on LSM510 confocal microscope (Zeiss) equipped with Axiovert 100M inverted microscope using ×40 magnification and 1.3-numerical-aperture oil-immersion lens for imaging. For co-localization experiments, 10 optical horizontal sections with intervals of 1 μm were taken through each preparation (Z-stack). A single median section of each preparation is shown.

Example 9 POSH Reduction by siRNA Abrogates West Nile Virus (“WNV”) Infectivity

HeLa SS6 cells were transfected with either control or POSH-specific siRNA. Cells were subsequently infected with WNV (4×10⁴ PFU/well). Viruses were harvested 24 hours and 48 hours post-infection, serially diluted, and used to infect Vero cells. As a control WNV (4×10⁴ PFU/well), that was not passed through HeLa SS6 cells, was used to infect Vero cells. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay in Vero cells.

Virus titer was reduced by 2.5-log in cells treated with POSH-specific siRNA relative to cells transfected with control siRNA, thereby indicating that WNV requires POSH for virus secretion. See FIG. 26.

Experimental Procedure:

Cell Culture, Transfections and Infection:

Hela SS6 cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum and 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin. For transfections, HeLa SS6 cells were grown to 50% confluency in DMEM containing 10% FCS without antibiotics. Cells were then transfected with the relevant double-stranded siRNA (100 nM) using lipofectamin 2000 (Invitrogen, Paisley, UK). On the day following the initial transfection, cells were split 1:3 in complete medium and transfected with a second portion of double-stranded siRNA (50 nM). Six hours post-transfection medium was replaced and cells infected with WNV (4×10⁴ PFU/well). Medium was collected from infected HeLa SS6 cells twenty-four and forty-eight post-infection (200 μl), serially diluted, and used to infect Vero cells. Virus titer was determined by plaque assay (Ben-Nathan D, Lachmi B, Lustig S, Feuerstien G (1991) Protection of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in mice ifected with viral encephalitis. Arch Viro; 120, 263-271).

Example 10 Analysis of the Effects of POSH Knockdown on M-MuLV Expression and Budding

Experimental Protocol:

Transfections:—

A day before transfection, Hela SS6 cells were plated in two 6 wells plates at 5×10⁵ cells per well. 24 hours later the following transfections were performed:

4 wells were transfected with control siRNA and a plasmid encoding MMuLV.

4 wells were transfected with POSH siRNA and a plasmid encoding MMuLV.

1 well was a control without any siRNA or DNA transfected.

1 well was transfected with a plasmid encoding MMuLV.

For each well to be transfected 100 nM (12.5 μl) POSH siRNA or 100 nM (12.5 μl) control siRNA were diluted in 250 μl Opti-MEM (Invitrogen). Lipofectamin 2000 (5 μl) (Invitrogen, Cat. 11668-019) was mixed with 250 μl of OptiMEM per transfected well. The diluted siRNA was mixed with the lipofectamin 2000 mix and the solution incubated at room temperature for 30 min. The mixture was added directly to each well containing 2 ml DMEM+10% FBS (w/o antibiotics).

24 hours later, four wells of the same siRNA treatment were split to eight wells, and two wells without siRNA were split to four wells.

24 hours later all wells were transfected with 100 nM control siRNA or 100 nM POSH siRNA with or without a plasmid encoding MMuLV (see table below). 48 hours later virions and cells were harvested. Amount of RNAi The volume of No of (μl) per Amount of DNA DNA (μl) per wells RNAi well (μg) per well well Application 5 POSH 12.5 MMuLV (2 μg) 10 4 wells for 100 nM (1^(st) VLPs assay and 2^(nd) and 1 well for transfection) RT 5 Control 12.5 MMuLV (2 μg) 10 4 wells for 100 nM (1^(st) VLPs assay and 2^(nd) and 1 well for RT transfection) 1 — — — 10 μl H₂O VLPs assay 1 — — MMuLV (2 μg) 10 VLPs assay Steady State VLP Assay Cell Extracts:—

-   -   1. Pellet floating cells by centrifugation (10 min, 500×g at 4°         C.), save supernatant (continued at step 7), wash cells once,         scrape cells in ice-cold 1×PBS, add to the corresponding cell         pellet and centrifuge for 5 min 1800 rpm at 4° C.     -   2. Wash cell pellet once with ice-cold 1×PBS.     -   3. Resuspend cell pellet in 150 μl 1% Triton X-100 lysis buffer         (20 mM HEPES-NaOH, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM EDTA,         1% Triton X-100 and 1× protease inhibitors) and incubate 20         minutes on ice.     -   4. Centrifuge at 14,000 rpm for 15 min. Transfer supernatant to         a clean tube.     -   5. Determine protein concentration by BCA.     -   6. Prepare samples for SDS-PAGE by adding 2 μl of 6×SB to 20 μg         extract (add lysis buffer to a final volume of 12 μl), heat to         80° C. for 10 min.

Purification of Virions from Cell Media

-   -   7. Filtrate the supernatant through a 0.45 μm filter.     -   8. Transfer 1500 μl of virions fraction to an ultracentrifuge         tube (swinging rotor).     -   9. Add 300 μl of fresh sucrose cushion (20% sucrose in TNE) to         the bottom of the tube.     -   10. Centrifuge supernatant at 35000 rpm at 4° C. for 2 hr.     -   11. Resuspend virion pellet in 50 μl hot 1× sample buffer each         (samples 153-1, 2, 3, 187-1, 2, 3). Resuspend VLPs pellet         (153-4, 5 and 187 4, 5) in 25 μl hot 1× sample buffer. Vortex         shortly, transfer to an eppendorf tube, unite VLPs from wells         153-4+5 and 187-4+5. Heat to 80° C. for 10 min.     -   12. Load equal amounts of VLPs relatively to cells extracts         amounts.         Western Blot Analysis     -   1. Separate all samples on 12% SDS-PAGE.     -   2. Transfer samples to nitrocellulose membrane (100V for 1.15         hr).     -   3. Dye membrane with ponceau solution.     -   4. Block with 10% low fat milk in TBS-T for 1 hour.     -   5. Incubate membranes with Goat anti p30 (81S-263) (1:5000) in         10% low fat milk in TBS-T over night at 4° C. Incubate with         secondary antibody rabbit anti goat-HRP 1:8000 for 60 min at         room temperature.     -   6. Detect signal by ECL reaction.     -   7. Following the ECL detection incubate memebranes with Donkey         anti rabbit Cy3 (Jackson Laboratories, Cat 711-165-152) 1:500         and detect signal by Typhoon scanning and quantitate.

Results:

As shown in FIG. 27, POSH knockdown decreases the release of extracellular MMuLV particles.

Example 11 POSH Protein-Protein Interactions by Yeast Two Hybrid Assay

POSH-associated proteins were identified by using a yeast two-hybrid assay.

Procedure:

Bait plasmid (GAL4-BD) was transformed into yeast strain AH109 (Clontech) and transformants were selected on defined media lacking tryptophan. Yeast strain Y187 containing pre-transformed Hela cDNA prey (GAL4-AD) library (Clontech) was mated according to the Clontech protocol with bait containing yeast and plated on defined media lacking tryptophan, leucine, histidine and containing 2 mM 3 amino triazol. Colonies that grew on the selective media were tested for beta-galactosidase activity and positive clones were further characterized. Prey clones were identified by amplifying cDNA insert and sequencing using vector derived primers.

Bait:

Plasmid vector: pGBK-T7 (Clontech)

Plasmid name: pPL269-pGBK-T7 GAL4 POSHdR

Protein sequence: Corresponds to aa 53-888 of POSH (RING domain deleted) RTLVGSGVEELPSNILLVRLLDGIKQRPWKPGPGGGSGTNCTNALRSQSS TVANCSSKDLQSSQGGQQPRVQSWSPPVRGIPQLPCAKALYNYEGKEPGD LKFSKGDIIILRRQVDENWYHGEVNGIHGFFPTNFVQIIKPLPQPPPQCK ALYDFEVKDKEADKDCLPFAKDDVLTVIRRVDENWAEGMLADKIGIFPIS YVEPNSAAKQLIEWDKPPVPGVDAGECSSAAAQSSTAPKHSDTKKNTKKR HSFTSLTMANKSSQASQMRHSMEISPPVLISSSNPTAAARISELSGLSCS APSQVHISTTGLIVTPPPSSPVTTGPSFTFPSDVPYQAALGTLNPPLPPP PLLAATVLASTPPGATAAAAAAGMGPRPMAGSTDQIAHLRPQTRPSVYVA IYPYTPRKEDELELRKGEMPLVFERCQDGWFKGTSMMTSKIGVFPGNYVA PVTRAVTNASQAKVPMSTAGQTSRGVTMVSPSTAGGPAQKLQGNGVAGSP SVVPAAVVSAANIQTSPQAKVLLHMTGQMTVNQARNAVRTVAAHNQERPT AAVTPIQVQNAAGLSPASVGLSHHSLASPQPAPLMPGSATHTAAISISRA SAPLACAAAAPLTSPSITSASLEAEPSGRIVTVLPGLPTSPDSASSACGN SSATKPDKDSKKEKKGLLKLLSGASTKRKPRVSPPASPTLEVELGSAELP LQGAVGPELPPGGGHGRAGSCPVDGDGPVTTAVAGAALAQDAFHRKASSL DSAVPIAPPPRQACSSLGPVLNESRPVVCERHRVVVSYPPQSEAELELKE GDIVFVHKKREDGWFKGTLQRNGKTGLFPGSFVENI Library screened: Hela Pretransformed Library (Clontech).

POSH-APs identified by yeast two-hybrid assay are provided in Tables 7 and 8. Also, the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of POSH-APs identified by yeast two-hybrid assay are provided in FIG. 36. In addition, the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of ARF1 and ARF5 are provided in FIG. 36.

Example 12 Inhibition of PKA Kinase Activity Attenuates HIV-1 Virus Maturation

HeLa SS6 cells were transfected with pNLenv-1_(PTAP) or pNLenv-1_(ATAA) (L-domain mutant). Eighteen hours post-transfection, cells were transferred to 20° C. for two hours in order to inhibit transport of viral particles from the trans-Golgi (TGN) to the plasma membrane (PM). Subsequently, the PKA inhibitor, H89 (50 μM) (Biosource, Cat. No. PHZ1114) or DMSO were added to the cells and dishes were transferred to 37° C. to initiate transport from the TGN to the PM. Reverse transcriptase activity was assayed from virus-like-particles collected from cell supernatant twenty minutes later. H89 treatment resulted in complete inhibition of RT activity. Thus, demonstrating that PKA activity is required for HIV-1 viral maturation.

Materials and Methods:

Cell Culture and Transfections

Hela SS6 cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum and 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin. For transfections, HeLa SS6 cells were grown to 100% confluency in DMEM containing 10% FCS without antibiotics. Cells were then transfected with HIV-1_(NLenv1) (2 μg per 6-well) (Schubert et al., 1995).

Assays for Virus Release by RT Activity

Virus and virus-like particle (VLP) release by reverse transcriptase activity was determined one day after transfection with the pro-viral DNA as previously described (Adachi et al., 1986; Fukumori et al., 2000; Lenardo et al., 2002). The culture medium of virus-expressing cells was collected and centrifuged at 500×g for 10 minutes. The resulting supernatant was passed through a 0.45 μm-pore filter and the filtrate was centrifuged at 14,000×g for 2 hours at 4° C. The resulting supernatant was removed and the viral-pellet was re-suspended in cell solubilization buffer (50 mM Tris-HCI, pH7.8, 80 mM potassium chloride, 0.75 mM EDTA and 0.5% Triton X-100, 2.5 mM DTT and protease inhibitors). The corresponding cells were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and then solubilized by incubation on ice for 15 minutes in cell solubilization buffer. The cell detergent extract was then centrifuged for 15 minutes at 14,000×g at 4° C. The sample of the cleared extract (normally 1:10 of the initial sample) were resolved on a 12.5% SDS-polyacrylamide gel, then transferred onto nitrocellulose paper and subjected to immunoblot analysis with rabbit anti-CA antibodies. The CA was detected after incubation with a secondary anti-rabbit antibody conjugated to Cy5 (Jackson Laboratories, West Grove, Pa.) and detected by fluorescence imaging (Typhoon instrument, Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.). The Pr55 and CA were then quantified by densitometry. A colorimetric reverse transcriptase assay (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannenheim, Germany) was used to measure reverse transcriptase activity in VLP extracts. RT activity was normalized to amount of Pr55 and CA produced in the cells.

Example 13 hPOSH is Phosphorylated by Protein Kinase A (PKA)

PKA is a cAMP-dependent kinase. The holoenzyme is a tetramer of two catalytic subunits (cPKA) bound to two regulatory subunits PRKR1 or PRKR2. Activation proceeds by the cooperative binding of two cAMP molecules to each R subunit, which causes the dissociation of each active C subunit from the R subunit dimer. The consensus sequence for phosphorylation by the C subunit is, stringently, K/R-R-X-S/TY and less stringently, R-X-X-S/TY, where Y tends to be a hydrophobic residue. The intracellular localization of PKA is controlled thorough association with A-kinase-anchoring proteins (AKAPs). The regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PRKR1A) was identified as a POSH interactor by yeast-two-hybrid screen, thereby implicating POSH as an AKAP.

Protein kinase A was demonstrated to be required for the budding of transport vesicles from the TGN (Muniz et al., 1997, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 94:14461-6). Furthermore, it was demonstrated that an inhibitor of PKA, H89, is able to block HIV-1 release from cells (Cartier et al., 2003, J Biol Chem., 278:35211-9). Since POSH is localized at the TGN and is implicated as an AKAP, POSH may regulate PKA-mediated budding at the TGN of vesicles and HIV-1.

Applicants demonstrated that POSH is phosphorylated by PKA. Several putative PKA phosphorylation sites are found within hPOSH coding sequence (FIG. 30). Phosphorylation of gravin, an AKAP, by PKA modulates its binding to the b2-adrenergic receptor. This serves to regulate the mobilization of gravin and PKA to the cell membrane and regulation of b2-AR activity by PKA. Two putative PKA sites are located in the putative-rac-binding region in POSH. Toward this end, POSH was subjected to in-vitro phosphorylation and binding to the small GTPase Rac1 (FIG. 31). Indeed, only unphosphorylated POSH was able to bind activated, GTP-loaded, Rac1, demonstrating that phosphorylation regulates the binding of POSH to small GTPases, such as Rac1. GTPases of this sort family include TCL, TC10, Cdc42, Wrch-1, Rac2, Rac3 or RhoG (Aspenstrom et al., 2003, Biochem J., 377(Pt 2):327-37). Small GTPases of this sort are involved in protein trafficking in the secretory system, including the trafficking of viral proteins, such as those of HIV.

Materials and Methods

PKA-Dependent Phosphorylation of hPOSH.

Bacterially expressed recombinant maltose-binding-protein (MBP)-hPOSH (3 μg) or GST-c-Cbl were incubated at 30° C. for 30 minutes with (*) or without 10 ng PKA catalytic subunit (PKAc) in a buffer containing 40 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 10 mM MgCl₂, 4 mM ATP, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 1 μM cAMP, 23 mM K₃PO₄, 7 nM DTT, and PKA peptide protection solution (Promega, Cat. No. V5340). The reaction was stopped by the addition of SDS-sample buffer, and boiling for 3 minutes. Samples were separated by SDS-PAGE on a 10% gel, and transferred to nitrocellulose and immunoblotted as detailed in the figure.

Binding of Rac1 to hPOSH

Bacterially expressed hPOSH (1 μg) or GST (1 μg) were phosphorylated as above. The reaction was terminated by the addition 0.5 ml of ice-cold 200 mM Tris-HCI pH 7.4, 5 mM EDTA. hPOSH and GST were then immobilized on NiNTA or reduced glutathione beads, respectively, by gentle mixing for 30 minutes. The immobilized proteins were washed three times with wash buffer (50 mM Tris-HCI pH 7.4, 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM MgCl2, 0.1 mM DTT). Recombinant Rac-1 (0.2 μg) (Sigma catalog # R3012) was incubated with or without 0.3 mM GTPγS (Sigma Cat. No. G8638) on ice for 15 minutes. The GTP/mock-loaded Rac-1 was then added to wash buffer (25 μl, final) and incubated for 30 minutes at 30° C. The beads were then washed three times with wash buffer containing 0.1% Tween 20. Sample buffer was added to the bead pellet and boiled for 3 minutes. Immobilized and associating proteins were then separated by SDS-PAGE on a 12% gel and immunobloted with anti-Rac-1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Cat. No. sc-217). Input is 0.25 μg of Rac-1.

Example 14 HERPUD1 Depletion by siRNA Reduces HIV Maturation

Hela SS6 cells were transfeted with siRNA directed against HERPUD1 and with a plsmid encoding HIV proviral genome (pNLenv-1). Twenty four hours post-HIV transfection, virus-like particles (VLP) secreted into the medium were isolated and reverse transcriptase activity was determined. HIV release of active RT is an indication for a release of processed and mature virus. When the levels of HERPUD1 were reduced RT activity was inhibited by 80%, demonstrating the importance of HERPUD1 in HIV-maturation. See FIG. 33.

Experimental Outline

Cell Culture and Transfection:

HeLa SS6 were kindly provided by Dr. Thomas Tuschl (the laboratory of RNA Molecular Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, N.Y.). Cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum and 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin. For transfections, HeLa SS6 cells were grown to 50% confluency in DMEM containing 10% FCS without antibiotics. Cells were then transfected with the relevant double-stranded siRNA (50-100 nM) (HERPUD1: 5′-GGGAAGUUCUUCGGAACCUdTdT-3′ and 5′-dTdTCCCUUCAAGAAGCCUUGGA-5′) using lipofectamin 2000 (Invitrogen, Paisley, UK). A day following the initial transfection cells were split 1:3 in complete medium and co-transfected 24 hours later with HIV-1NLenv1 (2 μg per 6-well) (Schubert et al., J. Virol. 72:2280-88 (1998)) and a second portion of double-stranded siRNA.

Assay for Virus Release

Virus and virus-like particle (VLP) release was determined one day after transfection with the proviral DNA as previously described (Adachi et al., J. Virol. 59: 284-91 (1986); Fukumori et al., Vpr. Microbes Infect. 2: 1011-17 (2000); Lenardo et al., J. Virol. 76: 5082-93 (2002)). The culture medium of virus-expressing cells was collected and centrifuged at 500×g for 10 minutes. The resulting supernatant was passed through a 0.45 μm-pore filter and the filtrate was centrifuged at 14,000×g for 2 hours at 4° C. The resulting supernatant was removed and the viral-pellet was re-suspended in SDS-PAGE sample buffer. The corresponding cells were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and then solubilized by incubation on ice for 15 minutes in lysis buffer containing the following components: 50 mM HEPES-NaOH, (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 0.5% NP-40, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA and 1:200 dilution of protease inhibitor cocktail (Calbiochem, La Jolla, Calif.). The cell detergent extract was then centrifuged for 15 minutes at 14,000×g at 4° C. The VLP sample and a sample of the cleared extract (normally 1:10 of the initial sample) were resolved on a 12.5% SDS-polyacrylamide gel, then transferred onto nitrocellulose paper and subjected to immunoblot analysis with rabbit anti-CA antibodies. The CA was detected either after incubation with a secondary anti-rabbit horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antibody and detected by Enhanced Chemi-Luminescence (ECL) (Amersham Pharmacia) or after incubation with a secondary anti-rabbit antibody conjugated to Cy5 (Jackson Laboratories, West Grove, Pa.) and detected by fluorescence imaging (Typhoon instrument, Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.). The Pr55 and CA were then quantified by densitometry and the amount of released VLP was then determined by calculating the ratio between VLP-associated CA and intracellular CA and Pr55 as previously described. (Schubert et al., J. Virol. 72:2280-88 (1998)).

Analysis of Reverse Transcriptase Activity in Supernatants

RT activity was determined in pelleted VLP (see above) by using an RT assay kit (Roche, Germany; Cat.No. 1468120). Briefly, VLP pellets were resuspended in 40 μl RT assay lysis buffer and incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes. At the end of incubation 20 μl RT assay reaction mix was added to each sample and incubation continued at 37° C. overnight. Samples. (60 μl) were than transferred to MTP strip wells and incubated at 37° C. for 1 hour. Wells were washed five times with wash buffer and DIG-POD added for a one-hour incubation at 37° C. At the end of incubation wells were washed five times with wash buffer and ABST substrate solution was added and incubated until color developed. The absorbance was read in an ELISA reader at 405 nm (reference wavelength 492 nm). The resulting signal intensity is directly proportional to RT activity; RT concentration was determined by plotting against a known amount of RT enzyme included in separate wells of the reaction.

Example 15 MSTP028 Reduction by siRNA Decreases HIV VLP Production

This example demonstrates the effects of an siRNA-mediated decrease in MSTP028 expression on the production of HIV virus-like particles in HeLa cells. The effects were measured at steady state.

Experiments were performed according to two different protocols. Experiment 1 proceeded with a second transfection on day 3, while Experiment 2 involved an additional exchange of medium on day 3, and proceeded to the second transfection on day 4. The results from Experiment 1 are shown FIG. 29A, and those for Experiment 2 are shown in FIG. 29B.

Day 1: Preparing Cells

4.5×10⁵ HeLa SS6 cells/well, were seeded in 1×6 well plates. Cells were seeded in transfection medium (growing medium free of antibiotics).

Materials: Cat. No. Manufacture Reagent Name D5796 Sigma DMEM 04-121-1A Beit Haemek FCS D8537 Sigma PBS P4333 Sigma Pen/Strep T4049 Sigma 0.25% Trypsin-EDTA Day 2: Transfection

Materials: Cat. No. Manufacture Reagent Name 11668-027 Invitrogen LF2000 reagent 31985-047 GibcoBRL OptiMEM

MSTP028 RNAi Constructs: siRNA target sequence Accession Pos. MST028 AAGTGCTCACCGACAGTGAAG NM_031954 197 MST028 AAGATACTTATGAGCCTTTCT NM_031954 392 Experimental and Control Conditions: 1—Control siRNA+pNLEnv-1 2—POSH siRNA+pNLenv-1 3—MSTP028 siRNA+pNLenv-1

-   1. Two hours before transfection, replace cell media to 2 ml/well     complete DMEM without antibiotics. -   2. siRNA dilution: for each transfection dilute 100 nm siRNA in 0.25     ml OptiMEM per well. -   3. LF 2000 dilution: for each well dilute 51 μl lipofectamine     reagent in 0.25 ml OptiMEM. -   4. Incubate diluted siRNAs and LF 2000 for 5 minutes at RT. -   5. Mix the diluted siRNAs with diluted LF2000 and incubated for 25     minutes at RT. -   6. Add the mixture to the cells, 0.5 ml/well (drop wise) and     incubate for 24 hours at 37° C. in CO₂ incubator.     Transfections: for Each Well     (12.5 μl (siRNA)/0.25 ml OptiMEM)×3     LF 2000 35 μl/1.75 ml     Day 3:     Exp. 1: second transfection (as Day 4 below).     Exp. 2: Exchange medium.     Day 4:     Exp. 1: VLP assay (see below).     Exp. 2: Second transfection -   1. Two hours before transfection, replace cell media to 2 ml/well     complete DMEM without antibiotics. -   2. siRNA and DNA dilution: Prepare dilution of plasmid pNLenv-1 0.75     μg/well in 0.25 ml OptiMEM (total of 3 wells). Divide plasmid     dilution to eppendorf tubes (0.25 ml each). To each tube add siRNA     40 nM (2.5 μl). -   3. LF 2000 dilution: for each well dilute 51 μl lipofectamine     reagent in 0.25 ml OptiMEM. -   4. Incubate diluted siRNAs and LF 2000 for 5 minutes at RT. -   5. Mix the diluted siRNAs with diluted LF2000 and incubated for 1     hour at RT. -   6. Add the mixture to the cells, 0.5 ml/well (drop wise) and     incubate for 24 hours at 37° C. in CO₂ incubator.     Day 5:     Exp. 2: VLP assay.

Solutions: Lysis buffer Tris-HCl pH 7.6 50 mM MgCl2 1.5 mM NaCl 150 mM Glycerol  10% NP-40 0.5% DOC 0.5% EDTA 1 mM EGTA 1 mM Add PI₃C 1:200. Steady State VLP Assay A. Cell extracts

-   1. Pellet floating cells by centrifugation (1 min, 14000 rpm at 40     C), save supernatant (continue with supernatant immediately to step     B), scrape cells in ice-cold PBS, add to the corresponding floated     cell pellet and centrifuge for 5 min 1800 rpm at 40 C. -   2. Wash cell pellet once with ice-cold PBS. -   3. Resuspend cell pellet (from 6 well) in 100 μl NP40-DOC lysis     buffer and incubate 10 minutes on ice. -   4. Centrifuge at 14,000 rpm for 15 min. Transfer supernatant to a     clean eppendorf. -   5. Prepare samples for SDS-PAGE by adding them sample buffer and     boil for 10 min—take the same volume for each reaction (15 μl).     B. Purification of VLP from Cell Media -   1. Filtrate the supernatant through a 0.45 μm filter. -   2. Centrifuge supernatant at 14,000 rpm at 40 C for at least 2 h. -   3. Resuspend VLP pellet in 50 μl 1× sample buffer and boil for 10     min. Load 25 μl of each sample.     C. Western Blot Analysis -   1. Run all samples from stages A and B on Tris-Gly SDS-PAGE 12.5%. -   2. Transfer samples to nitrocellulose membrane (100V for 1.15 h.). -   3. Dye membrane with ponceau solution. -   4. Block with 10% low fat milk in TBS-t for 1 h. -   5. Incubate with anti p24 rabbit 1:500 in TBS-t 2 hour (room     temperature)—overnight (40° C.). -   6. Wash 3 times with TBS-t for 7 min each wash. -   7. Incubate with secondary antibody anti rabbit cy5 1:500 for 30     min. -   8. Wash five times for 10 min in TBS-t -   9. View in Typhoon for fluorescence signal (650).

Example 16 POSH-Depleted Cells have Lower Levels of Herp and it is not Monoubiquitinated

POSH-depleted cells and their control counterparts were lysed and immunoblotted with anti-herp antibodies. Cells depleted of POSH (H1153 RNAi stables cell lines) cells have lower levels of Herp compared with control cells (H1187 RNAi) (FIG. 34A panel A). When cells were transfected with a plasmid encoding flagged-tagged ubiquitin, and immunoprecipitated with anti-flag antibodies to immunoprecipitate ubiquitinated proteins, Herp was ubiquitinated only in H187 cells and not in H153 cells (FIG. 34A panel B). When the aforementioned cells were transfected with Herp-encoding plasmid, exogenous herp levels were also reduced in H153 cells compared to H187 cells (FIG. 34B panel A) and the ubiquitination of exogenous herp was reduced in the former cells, similar to endogenous Herp. The molecular weight of ubiquitinated Herp is as predicated to full-length Herp and does not seem as a high molecular weight smear, a characteristic of polyubiquitinated proteins. Thus POSH is responsible for the mono-ubiquitination of Herp, and in the absence of this modification herp is subjected to degradation, which may be mediated by the proteosome.

Materials and Methods

Plasmid Generation

Full-length Herp was cloned from image clone MGC:45131 IMAGE:5575914 (GeneBank Accesion BC032673) into pCMV-SPORT6.

Antibody Production

Herp1 (amino acids 1 to 251) was amplified from a plasmid (3Gd4) obtained by yeast two hybrid screen for interactors of POSH. The amplified open reading frame was cloned into pGEX-6P, expressed in E. coli BL21 by induction with 1 mM IPTG and purified on glutathione-agarose. The purified protein was cleaved with Precision™ protease (Amersham Biosciences) and the GST moiety removed by glutathione chromatography. The protein was injected into rabbits (Washington Biotechnology) to produce anti-Herp1 sera.

Transfections and Antibody Detection

Twenty-four hours prior to transfection POSH-RNAi clones (H153) or control-RNAi clones (H187) cells were plated in 10 cm dishes in growth medium (DMEM containing 10% fetal calf serum without antibiotics). Cells were transfected with lipofectamin 2000 (Invitrogen Corporation) and either Herp-expression plasmid (2.5 μg) or empty vector (2.5 μg) and a vector encoding Flag-tagged ubiquitin (1 μg). Twenty-four hours post-trasnfection cells were lysed in lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH7.6, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 150 mM NaCL, 10% glycerol, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.5% NP-40 and 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, containing protease inhibitors) and subjected to immunoprecipitation with anti-Flag antibodies (Sigma, F7425) to precipitate ubiquitinated proteins. Immunoprecipitated material and total cell lysates were separated on 10% SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes which were immunoblotted with anti-Herp antibodies.

Generation of H187 and H153 Cell Lines

To relieve the necessity for multiple transfections and to improve the reproducibility of hPOSH reduction, we have generated two cell lines, H187 and H153 constitutively expressing an integrated control and hPOSH siRNA (respectively).

Construction of shRNA retroviral vectors—hPOSH scrambled oligonucleotide (5′-CACACACTGCCGTCAACTGTTCAAGAGACAGTTGACGGCAGTGTGTGTTT TTT-3′; and 5′-AATTAAAAAACACACACTGCCGTCAACTGTCTCTTGAACA GTTGACGGCAGTGTGTGGGCC-3′) were annealed and cloned into the ApaI-EcoRI digested pSilencer 1.0-U6 (Ambion, Inc.) to generate pSIL-scrambled. Subsequently, the U6-promoter and RNAi sequences were digested with BamHI, and blunted by end filling. The insert was cloned into the OliI site in the retroviral vector, pMSCVhyg (BD Biosciences Clontech), generating pMSCVhyg-U6-scrambled. The hPOSH oligonucleotide encoding RNAi against hPOSH (5′-AACAGAGGCCTTGGAAACCTGGAAGCTTGCAGGTTTCCAAGGCCTCT GTT-3′; and 5′-GATCAACAGAGGCCTTGGAAACCTGCAAGCTTCCAGGTTTCCAAGGC CTCTGTT-3′) were annealed and cloned into the BamHI-EcoRV site of pLIT-U6, generating pLIT-U6 hPOSH-230. The pLIT-U6 is an shRNA vector containing the human U6 promoter (amplified by PCR from human genomic DNA with the primers, 5′-GGCCCACTAGTCAAGGTCGGGCAGGAAGA-3′ and 5′-GCCGAATTCAAAAAGGATCCGGCGATATCCGGTGTTTCGTCCTTTCCA-3′) cloned into pLITMUS38 (New England Biolabs, Inc.) digested with SpeI-EcoRI. Subsequently, the U6 promoter-hPOSH shRNA (pLIT-U6 hPOSH-230 digested with SnaBI and PvuI) was cloned into the Olil site of pMSCVhyg (BD Biosciences Clontech) generating pMSCVhyg U6-hPOSH-230.

Recombinant retrovirus production—HEK 293T cells were transfected with retroviral RNAi plasmids (pMSCVhyg-U6-POSH-230 and pMSCVhyg-U6-scrambled and with plasmids encoding VSV-G and Moloney Gag-pol. Two days post-transfection, the retrovirus-containing medium was collected and filtered.

Infection and selection—Polybrene (Hexadimethrine bromide) (Sigma) (8 μg/ml) was added to the filtered and the treated medium was subsequently used to infect HeLa SS6 cells. Forty-eight hours post-infection clones were selected for RNAi expression by the addition of hygromycin (300 μg/ml). Clones expressing the scrambled and the hPOSH RNAi were termed H187 and H153 (respectively).

Example 17 Inhibition of HBV Production

HepG2.2.15 cells were plated on 9 cm dishes and allowed to grow in 8% FCS for 5 days up to 70% confluence. After 5 days, cells were washed twice with PBS and re-supplied with fresh DMEM without FCS. In this medium, cells were treated every 24 hours with the depicted solutions (3 μl solution/11 ml medium) for another 4 days (4 treatments total). After 4 days, medium was collected from each plate, viruses were sedimented and analyzed.

As shown in FIG. 35, lanes 7 and 8, compounds CAS number 14567-55-4 and CAS number 414908-38-0 inhibit HBV production at a concentration of 3 μM. Detection of HBV proteins was performed essentially as described in Paran, N et al (2001) EMBO J 20(16):4443-4453.

Incorporation by Reference

All publications and patents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each individual publication or patent was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. In case of conflict, the present application, including any definitions herein, will control.

Equivalents

While specific embodiments of the subject applications have been discussed, the above specification is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the applications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this specification and the claims below. The full scope of the applications should be determined by reference to the claims, along with their full scope of equivalents, and the specification, along with such variations. 

1. An isolated, purified or recombinant complex comprising a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-associated protein (POSH-AP).
 2. The complex of claim 1, wherein the POSH-AP comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: PKA, SNX1, SNX3, ATP6V0C, PTPN12, PPP1CA, GOSR2, CENTB1, DDEF1, ARF1, ARF5, PACS-1, EPS8L2, HERPUD1, UNC84B, MSTP028, GOCAP, EIF3S3, SRA1, CBL-B, RALA, SIAH1, SMN1, SMN2, SYNE1, TTC3, VCY2IP1 and UBE2N (UBC13).
 3. (canceled)
 4. The complex of claim 1, wherein the POSH polypeptide is a human POSH polypeptide. 5-6. (canceled)
 7. A method for identifying an agent that modulates an activity of a POSH polypeptide or POSH-AP, the method comprising identifying an agent that disrupts a complex of claim 1, wherein an agent that disrupts a complex claim 1 is an agent that modulates an activity of the POSH polypeptide or the POSH-AP.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: evaluating the effect of the test agent on a function of a virus, wherein an agent that inhibits a pro-infective or pro-replicative function of a virus is an antiviral agent.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the POSH-AP is selected from the group consisting of: PKA, SNX1, SNX3, PTPN12, GOSR2, CENTB1, ARF1, ARF5, PACS-1, EPS8L2, HERPUD1, SMN1, SMN2, UNC84B, MSTP028, GOCAP, CBL-B, SYNE1, UBE2N (UBC13), SIAH1, TTC3, WASF1, HIP55, RALA, and SPG20.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the virus is an envelope virus.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the virus is a Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein evaluating the effect of the test agent on a function of the virus comprises evaluating the effect of the test agent on the budding or release of the virus or a virus-like particle. 15-23. (canceled)
 24. A method of identifying an agent that inhibits the progression of a neurological disorder, comprising: (a) identifying a test agent that disrupts a complex comprising a POSH polypeptide and a POSH-AP; and (b) evaluating the effect of the test agent on the trafficking of a protein through the secretory pathway wherein an agent that disrupts localization of a POSH-AP is an agent that inhibits progression of a neurological disorder.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the POSH-AP is selected from the group consisting of: HERPUD1, CBL-B, SIAH1, and TTC3.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the POSH-AP is HERPUD1. 27-62. (canceled)
 63. A method of identifying an agent that modulates a POSH function, comprising: a) identifying an agent that modulates a POSH-AP; and b) testing the effect of the agent on a POSH function.
 64. (canceled)
 65. The method of claim 63, wherein the POSH-AP comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: PKA, SNX1, SNX3, ATP6V0C, PTPN12, PPP1CA, GOSR2, CENTB1, DDEF1, ARF1, ARF5, PACS-1, EPS8L2, HERPUD1, UNC84B, MSTP028, GOCAP, EIF3S3, SRA1, CBL-B, RALA, SIAH1, SMN1, SMN2, SYNE1, TTC3, VCY2IP1 and UBE2N (UBC13).
 66. (canceled)
 67. The method of claim 63, wherein testing the effect of the agent on a POSH function comprises testing the effect of the agent on the production of viral particles or virus like particles in a cell infected with an envelope virus.
 68. The method of claim 63, wherein testing the effect of the agent on a POSH function comprises testing the effect of the agent on a POSH enzymatic activity.
 69. The method of claim 68, wherein the POSH enzymatic activity is ubiquitin ligase activity.
 70. The method of claim 63, wherein testing the effect of the agent on a POSH function comprises testing the effect of the agent on POSH-mediated localization or secretion of a protein.
 71. The method of claim 63, wherein testing the effect of the agent on a POSH function comprises testing the effect of the agent on the interaction of POSH with a POSH-AP.
 72. (canceled)
 73. (canceled)
 74. The method of claim 63, wherein the test agent is selected from among: an antisense nucleic acid, an siRNA construct, a small molecule, an antibody and a polypeptide. 75-108. (canceled) 